Hampton@: November 2011

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Not a fair deal for VB Citizens

Crony Capitalism? You Decide. A bad Deal for Virginia Beach Citizens
Scott Taylor

I am personally not opposed to all public/private partnerships; nonetheless, it is troubling when there is unintended or intended abuse of our precious, hard earned tax dollars. Let me preface this OP-Ed with writing, I do think the Virginia Beach Convention Center is better off with a connected hotel that boasts meeting space within. There is data supporting the fact companies select venues for their conventions consisting of these specifications. I also agree the developer is more than competent to achieve the desired results of a first class hotel. At first glance, there seems to be an excellent match.

However, one of my issues I brought up in 2008 for Virginia Beach was specifically these types of deals, involving a favored developer and massive amounts of tax payer dollars without proper protection to those everyday citizens who sacrifice monies to the common good. The government's main function is to protect its citizens and by extension, their interests. The abusive practice of eminent domain was also involved with this land site, but it is not the priority of this letter.

There are several glaring issues with the Convention Center Hotel term sheet that has now become public. While there are still some negotiations to the final contract, these are minutia as it specifically says in the term sheet, that it "forms the basis" for the transaction. The term sheet is the structure of the deal and a result of previous negotiations.

Virginia Beach (us) will put up over half of the project costs, upfront. This does not include the land we are throwing in the deal gratis (which we should keep).

Below are amazing highlights for the developer and irresponsible use of our money.

Total hotel costs are 109.2 million only 10% upfront coming from developer and over 50% coming from us, or a total of 61.8 million (initially).
We will contribute over 42 million in cash at closing time. An additional $13 million will be provided the developer in the form of a Mezzanine financing loan. This type of risky financing usually has interest rates from 12-20%. According to the term sheet, we are to lend the money at 3.2% and the developer will not have to start repaying till 2016. We will also contribute 4.8 million in a grant to the developer.
The developer will not have to pay lease payments on the Hotel services space for the first 6 years and then only start to pay at a rate of $6 per square foot; this would be equivalent to rent for an old, poorly located, and empty warehouse space.
The developer will get $450k (to start being paid immediately) a year just to manage the conference center in the hotel. By contrast the nationally known manager of the total convention center space of our competitor the Hampton convention center receives $125k (starting in 2006) per year and they perform grounds maintenance. Hampton Convention Center management. Virginia Beach spends almost $800k on just the convention center management/sales per year; this does not include salaries for maintenance/event coordinators. See salaries here

Note: The Doubletree hotel (right next door to the Convention Center) is willing to put up $25.5 million of their own money to upgrade their hotel and is only asking the city (us) to pay for the bridge connecting it to the Convention center ($5-10 million).

If you believe (no matter your political persuasion) we only have a problem nationally with picking politically connected winners in the banking, auto, and other industries, than just look a little closer to home. In 2008 I raised these issues in regards to the town center project. Furthermore, I was a part of debates and talks of concentrating on keeping our well educated kids or our thousands of skilled exiting military members here in Virginia Beach. There was talk and ideas of creating a business incubator program to spur job growth and entrepreneurship, a better use of monies. This, so far, has been lip service. We just learned of a 90 million dollar budget shortfall last month in the city. In the past few years we have had increases in storm water, sewage and water fees and a new $10 monthly trash fee starts in January. While I do believe the Convention center needs a hotel, I believe the above example is a misuse, perhaps an abuse, of our money.

Respectfully, Scott Taylor

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Friday, November 11, 2011

Fwd: Thank You and Please Share

To Republican Party of Hampton City Committee and Sustaining Members and Friends,

Please find below a Note of Thanks from Tom Harmon, our Republican Candidate for the Second Senatorial District.

I would like to add my thanks to our members and friends who worked in large part or small in assisting with the Harmon Campaign. Many walked neighborhoods, distributed literature, attended events, contributed money, worked the polls, and in many other ways supported the Campaign.

I would also like to thank Tom Harmon for leading us in a Positive Campaign concentrating on the issues.

Carl Anderson

Chairman,

Republican 2nd Senatorial District Committee

From: harmon43@verizon.net

Sent: 11/11/2011 8:57:47 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Thank You and Please Share

Dear Friends,

Please accept my profound appreciation for you allowing me to serve as your representative in this past election cycle. I am truly grateful for the new friendships developed along our path of trying to secure the 2^nd Senatorial District Senate seat. Even though I fell short of the goal, I can say with pride that the local Republican Party City Committees, (Hampton, Yorktown, Newport News and Portsmouth) and Second District Republican Committee (especially Mr. Byler) worked together as I have never seen before to provide support. My appreciation also runs deep and I can say with pride how proud I am to have received the support from our local Republican Women's Groups.

If the news paper report of the race is accurate we were out spent in the neighborhood of 5-1, which to me means that there was recognition of our message and they pulled out all of the "tricks" to galvanize their base.

Please share with all of the volunteers, friends and contributors, our team's appreciation and gratefulness for their support.

Thank You,

Tom Harmon IV

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

CHKD (@_CHKD) is now following you on Twitter!

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Breaking News: Mamie Locke wins re-election to 2nd Senate District

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Locke wins re-election to 2nd Senate District

State Sen. Mamie Locke easily won re-election to a third term today, beating Republican challenger Thomas Harmon IV of Hampton in Virginia's 2nd Senate District.

Read the story here.

For breaking news 24 hours a day and an interactive guide to Hampton Roads visit PilotOnline.com and HamptonRoads.com.

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Monday, November 7, 2011

Last Hours to ELECTION & HARMON VICTORY PARTY!!

Greetings, All!!

Well, we're down to the last hours to bring TRUE representation to York
County and all the 2nd Senate District by electing TOM HARMON!!! Remember:
the 2nd District is Hampton, East Newport News, part of Portsmouth, and
parts of York County!!

Make sure you get out and vote tomorrow, 8 Nov, and make sure you call your
neighbors, friends, co-workers, and anyone you know who lives in the 2nd
District to GET OUT THE VOTE for TOM HARMON FOR SENATE!! If anyone needs a
ride to the polls, take them with you or call Lynda Fairman's cell
757-593-1854, & she'll drive voters to their polling location!!

The polls will be open from 6 AM to 7PM!!

When the polls close, head over to Tom Harmon's Victory Party for a
family-friendly good time in the 2nd District! Please pass this invitation
along!! See you there!! J

WHERE: Classic Lanes Bowling Alley

@ Newmarket South - 79th & Jefferson (630 79th St.), NN
23605

WHEN: Tuesday, 8 Nov., starts @ 7:15 pm lasts until the votes are all
counted!

WHO: Thank you to our Volunteers & Voters - we couldn't do it without
YOU!!

WHAT: Join us to watch election returns on the big screen with
appetizers and unlimited sweet tea & get to know your next Senator Tom
Harmon!

SPECIAL: BRING A CAN OF FOOD TO HELP 'STRIKE' OUT HUNGER IN THE 2ND
DISTRICT!!

CHKD (@_CHKD) is now following you on Twitter!

_CHKD CHKD

Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) is the facility of choice for pediatric care in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

Hampton Roads, Va.

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What Happens Tomorrow Sets the Stage for 2012

Dear Robert:

Tomorrow is Election Day for the Virginia Senate, House of Delegates and MANY LOCAL OFFICES (Please don't forget your local elections; check out the Virginia State Board of Elections website today to see all the races on your precinct's ballot).

Virginia is one of a very few states holding elections tomorrow, so you know the national media will be watching us very closely. If the liberals do better than expected tomorrow, the media will declare it a sign that Virginians want to see Barack Obama re-elected, and Tim Kaine sent to the U.S. Senate next year.

If, however, conservatives make great strides across the Commonwealth, the media will be forced to report on the growing tidal wave that is building against the Establishment politicians of both parties.

In my note to you last week, I told you about all the great State Senate candidates who are being supported by our friends at the Virginia Tea Party Alliance. Shortly after my email, I got word that VTPA had added Tom Gordy in Senate District 29 (Prince William, Manassas, Manassas Park) to their list as well.

Of course there are other solid conservatives running this year, both for the Virginia Senate and in the House of Delegates. The Republican Party of Virginia's website has a page with links to all Republican candidates and their websites, which you can access here.

Yesterday I finished up five straight days in Hampton Roads and the Middle Peninsula, and I had several opportunities to help some wonderful candidates. At one such stop I had the chance to speak with Governor McDonnell about the races. He tells me there are a number of House and Senate campaigns within the "margin of error," so we need to work tirelessly through tomorrow evening at 7:00 pm.

I am doing all I can for our solid, constitutional conservative candidates around the Commonwealth, and will continue to do so until the polls close tomorrow.

Remember, the eyes of the nation are on Virginia tomorrow. Please be sure to get out and vote -- and encourage at least five friends and family members to join you -- for the solid conservative candidates in your area, and send a message to Barack Obama and Tim Kaine that they can't miss.

All My Best,

P.S. The elections next week are critical for the future of Virginia -- but the 2012 campaign to replace Obama, Kaine and the Establishment Republicans with Courageous Conservative Leadership isn't slowing down for a minute!

Please help me keep our campaign spreading across Virginia with your most generous contribution today.