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Change in Paris is an inconstant constant thing.

There are older neighborhoods where weeds and wild grasses can brag that they’ve had a wonderful time for years living a seasonal life without fear of being mowed. Some are 20-years old and a few even older. The termites, who can trace their family histories back for over a hundred generations, are living high on the hog in most neighborhoods. Businesses are opening and businesses are closing, but vacant buildings are winning. Littering is inconsiderate, but constant, as so many people are really good at it. Littering, and taking a great deal of pride in knowing how not to drive are tied at second place as Paris’ greatest recreational pleasure. In a really close third place is dodging chuckholes in city streets. But far away in first place is the trouble with transparency or the lack of it.

Its difficult to keep up with all that’s going on.

Transparency is the one thing in Paris that is inconstant.

Transparency, one week a year – sunshine week – is written and spoke about in reverend tones and the media brags about reporting all that’s fit to print or report. The media uses its own “what is fit” filter to shine the spotlight of transparency on “what is fit” –

Its this “what is fit” that cause people to grow old before their time in Paris, or want to move somewhere else in time – or at least, slap their Grandmaw.  But the Texas Tribune is all over the state and is really thriving among all the locals, and where it steps intelligence dies.

And you cannot move out of Texas, because all the people moving in have the highways blocked with their versions of what is fair and progressive in the crime-filled streets from the cities and states they’re fleeing. The only thing not left behind is the stupidity.  Most are bringing that commodity with them . . .

Transparency in Paris . . . .

. . . . which sounds like a song (but sounds better then it is) leaves a lot to desire.

We’re told the City of Paris is promoting progress for the city’s welfare by subsidizing every snake oil proposal that comes along, including the giving of land and money, building streets, rental properties, installing utilities, and joining hands in private-public partnerships with unknown private entities, all singing Kumbaya, backed up by a fiddle and 111 git’tars — one of which sounds like it might be in tune —

To some of us less-enlightened, giving public tax money to these private entities seem awfully unethical, if not semi-illegal, even under democratic socialism.

Even if it is legal, its still awful: Despite years of co-mingling funds, which is a locally-accepted practice (even if the IRS frowns on it). No public-collecting governmental unit should be giving public funds to private entities, regardless of what some judge has ruled. Until the Texas Economic Development Act of 1981, municipalities were limited to giving “like or kind” site locations and improvements – but not allowed to offer various incentives, including cash grants, to any private endeavor.

Just about everything Paris that does is so worded that those who are supposed to be the watchdogs against corruption in government think its a great idea.

The Paris Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) has never met a promoter it could refuse to hand out incentives and cash money, and brag about what a great deal it is for the taxpayers who are footing the bill. But you never hear the downside of things. For instance, the PEDC claimed that it was responsible for getting 200 of 280 jobs to Paris, and those jobs are good for a billion dollars over a ten year period. But, somehow, taxpayers were never told that during the time when the PEDC claimed it was getting those jobs, Campbell Soup announced the elimination of 300 jobs; and the loss of jobs at Sara Lee, Turner Industries, etc. Nor, was there ever a hint of what the lost of those jobs cost Paris – or even the dollar amount from years of giving incentives and tax abatement to the Campbell Company.

Its all meat – and no potatoes … and that ain’t right … like green tomatoes –

Other industrial plants have closed, changed hands, and businesses come and businesses go. But there’s never any info on the economic loss associated with a business or industry closing.

Its all Happy Talk. Sorta’ like the general, hopeful, talk about how the City of Paris is growing, when it’s the Lamar County area that’s doing it.

Repeating ourselves, again (because it can’t be said too often):

              the trouble with transparency is the lack of it.

 

 

                                                                                                            return to    Paris Texas Chamber

         
Recently, the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce posted “The Objective” on our website;  explaining that our purpose was simply to be a voice in the community for those who, otherwise, would have no voice.

 To lend weight to our point, we asked: “Where else will you see, read or hear anything that dissents from or even question what citizens are told that relates  to a City of Paris program?”

What we didn’t know then, that we know now, is that “hear” is a really big word – in more ways than one.

Now, we are well aware that we were wrong in saying “hear” : There’s a lot of griping going on about how complaining doesn’t do a bit of good.

We apologize . . .

We should have simply expressed disappointment over the lack of Dissidence – 

Taxpayers would be better served by dissidence, as expressing opposition to is much better than hearing about wasting money. Dissidence is needed.

So, please, show some mercy! 

Other examples of needed dissidence is on allowing weeds to grow, and allowing most areas inside the city limits to be used as a dump ground. If nothing else, cut the weeds and stop the littering.

Even “”artificial intelligence” might agree –-–


But it is seeming that the human programmers of AI have a personal opinion or bias that may or may not agree, as it seems to accept that even plunder is a right of government. But plunder is taking by force the assets of others, whether its by law or at the point of a gun.  All of which make one question (or should) the intelligence of the creators, developers, and programmers of Artificial Intelligence. Some of the answers it provides dumb or even intelligent questions need questioning.

Dissidence is always a needed quality when facts are hard to find or mugged so badly that they are unrecognizable without questions.

 

How can we, in good consciousness, call Paris “a good city” or a “good place to live,” when too many policies and programs benefit some citizens, but not all? When the same policies and programs that are used as weapons against some citizens become favors granted to others? When public tax money (collected from all citizens) is given to a private endeavor or used to fund some socialist “public-private partnership”? And when and how did it occur that all data and information about some important endeavor or project be ignored and words be carefully crafted so that supporters can play “Whack-a-Mole” with any fact that might raise its intelligent head?

Dissidence requires questions. Without it, the idea may or may not have merit or value, and it certainly has no need for transparency.  IF so, it certainly does not need public tax money.

Ideas are not the enemy.

The lack of dissidence, not questioning every idea, is . . . (whether it is about control of litter or government plunder).

Actually, the verdict on Paris is in: Weeds and litter are everywhere; ordinances and policies are selectively enforced or ignored or in conflict with other laws or lawful policies; too many of our neighborhoods are full of blight, decay, rot, and historical obsolescence; there are more rental properties than single-family home ownership; and more empty houses and vacant business-buildings than ever.

IF we really wanted to make Paris beautiful, we’d be taking down utility poles instead of putting them up and butchering trees.

Paris had the potential to be a good city and a good place to live. Once upon a time, Paris was the largest city in a 100-mile circle of NE Texas and SE Oklahoma; the North Star of Texas. But that was, as the song says, “Once Upon a Time, So Very Long Ago … “

Lamar County population is growing; the population inside the city limits of Paris, isn’t – and years of not questioning the ideas have made this the reality.

The lack of dissidence is the reason why.

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                        Private-Public Partnerships

1930s – 1940s: The Seeds of Change

  • Great Depression: Economic hardships led to federal initiatives aimed at job creation and infrastructure development, laying groundwork for using public funds to stimulate private investment.
  • Federal Programs: Initiatives like the Works Progress Administration (WPA; a governmental entity) are given as examples of how government spending can support private businesses.

1950s – 1960s: Formalization

  • Urban Renewal Programs: Using returning servicemen from WWII, enacted in the late 1940s and 1950s, these programs allowed for the use of public funds to pay for clearing blighted areas, and facilitating private development.
  • Federal Housing Act (1961): Introduced funding for urban renewal, further excusing the using of public tax dollars for private investments.

1970s: Expansion into Economic Development

  • Economic Development Administration (EDA): Established in 1965, as democrat socialism really bloomed, it helped to fund local development efforts through public-private partnerships.
  • Tax Increment Financing (TIF): Gained traction in multiple states following the trend during the 1970s, allowing local governments to claim re-capture of public tax dollars from future increased tax revenues from new private development, a program with limited success and a large number of mixed reviews.
Legislative Changes in Texas and Beyond

1980s: Legislative Framework

  • Texas Economic Development Act (1981): Established a blueprint for local economic development programs, permitting cities to use public funds as incentives for private businesses.

1990s: Widespread Adoption

  • Enterprise Zone Programs: Formulated by the U. S. Department of Commerce, these initiatives were to encouraged investment in economically distressed areas by private firms through financial incentives funded by public tax dollars, including guarantees back by the taxpayers to banks that would make loans to local government-approved developers.

Overall, the movement towards using public tax money for private endeavors evolved over decades, influenced by claims of economic needs and the acceptance by voters of democratic socialism for the growth of federal programs sold as fostering growth and revitalization in communities.

So, the question becomes, “Have such programs, based on costs or money spent, been successful at reducing poverty or homelessness or rebuilding inner-city areas?”

And the answer, of course, is that, despite using trillions of dollars of public funds to support private ventures, these programs have failed with greater numbers of blighted intercity areas, more poverty, more homelessness, and an even greater cost in inflation.

Assessment of Effectiveness

Positive Outcomes for democratic socialism:

  1. Job Creation: Many programs report job creation as a direct outcome, which can have a ripple effect in reducing poverty levels. Supporters claim that increased employment opportunities lead to better living standards. Currently, government is the nation’s largest employer.
  2. Investment in Infrastructure: Public funding has led to some improved infrastructure in a few in-city areas, which is claimed to enhance the appeal for businesses and residents alike, and it certainly increases the value for the owners of the improved property.
  3. Revitalization of Blighted Areas: Some cities have seen physical improvements, including the renovation of housing and commercial spaces, but still have the same problems, plus a higher tax rate.

Mixed or Negative Outcomes

  1. Limited Impact on Poverty: Many studies indicate that while jobs may be created, they often do not pay enough to significantly lift individuals out of poverty. The quality of jobs created is crucial. And not all the jobs are filled with workers from the sponsoring community, and some are filled by local workers simply changing their old job for a new one.
  2. Displacement Risks: Gentrification sometimes does follow revitalization efforts; lower-income residents are displaced as property values rise, and it has seemingly increased homelessness in large cities.
  3. Inequitable Distribution of Benefits: Benefits flow more to the property developers and the businesses than to the communities intended to be uplifted, leaving original residents (those who have paid the taxes for years) with minimal gains.

Evidence and Studies

  • Reports from Research Institutions: Various studies on enterprise zones and similar programs show mixed results, often indicating that while jobs are created, the long-term impacts on poverty and homelessness are less clear; pointing to the trillions of dollars wasted on the War on Poverty..
  • National Studies: Research has found that economic development programs frequently succeed in attracting businesses, but offered incentives are only a consideration after market and location and do not significantly alleviate poverty or homelessness on their own.

Conclusion

While some public-private funding programs have produced some positive results in certain urban areas, their overall effectiveness in significantly reducing poverty and homelessness or rebuilding of communities is limited and context-specific. Sustainable change usually requires comprehensive approaches that integrate economic development with social services and community engagement.

There are growing concerns about public-private partnerships and the negative impacts of using public tax money to fund private endeavors that primarily benefit select individuals or businesses.

A key report by the Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce regarding Private-Public Partnerships make these main points:

Key Concerns:

Mis-allocation of Public Funds

  • Public resources are sometimes used to support private projects that do not provide widespread benefits, leading to questions about accountability and fairness.

Favoritism in Selection

  • The risk of favoritism occurs, where certain businesses or individuals receive preferential treatment over others, creating inequities in economic opportunities.

Limited Community Benefits

  • Many times, the promised benefits, such as job creation and economic growth, may not materialize for the broader community, exacerbating disparities.

Erosion of Trust

  • Such practices can erode public trust in governmental institutions, as citizens become disillusioned with how their tax dollars are used.

Call for Accountability

  • The Paris Texas Chamber of Commerce continuously emphasize the need for transparency and rigorous evaluation of the actual impacts of these partnerships to ensure that public funds are used effectively for community benefit.

For the complete analysis, you can visit this link to read more about these critical perspectives on public-private partnerships. If you need further insights or a discussion on these issues, the Paris Texas Chamber has other website postings on economics and government, as well as local politics.

return to The Paris Texas Chamber

 

Links:

  City of Paris and it’s local partners

 Local Government