Special Interests
No more special interests or nepotism.
The Granite City’s Art & Entertainment district, rebranded as The District, located in the heart of downtown is an example. The focus of the government has been on revitalizing downtown, creating tourism and a lightlife by spending 7.2 million dollars in two major investments, the Cinema and the Mill
This agenda has not empowered the population or the communities of Granite City. One Business owner, Brenda Whitaker, had signs stating that no one wants to work posted on their front doors. Brenda Whitaker even stated in a newspaper article from 2021 that “I can’t get people to work.” Metroeastsun.com "Granite City restaurant owner says she can't get people to work"
It is a divisive statement that undermines our population labeling them as lazy. But instead of disagreeing with her, the current administration created a new position, Arts and Entertainment Director, and gave her the job with a salary of $50,000. Granite City Council Agenda June 2021 [Pages 9 and 11]
Before being the head of Tourism, Brenda was given a property for 100$ at 1930 Cleveland in 2016. The city paid $74,000 for the property in 2009. Brenda Whitaker stated that “I got it fair and square, and hopefully, we can turn it around and bring another successful business to downtown.” This property is the current day Cutting Room Floor haunted house. It is only open for three hours, two days of the week in October. Belleville News-Democrat "Downtown Granite City building cost taxpayers $74,000: later sold to former councilwoman for $100 "
Brenda currently owns several businesses downtown, and they are only open a few days of the week for a few hours. One of her closed businesses, the original location for the Garden Gate Tea Room, sits abandoned a quarter mile down the road at 839 Niedringhaus Ave.
This city can not afford to keep financing special interests whose business record is not successful. It has not benefited the community or led to growth. This has only alienated the community more.
In addition to the appointment of Brenda Whitaker as Arts and Entertainment Director, the city invested 7.2 million dollars on the development of the Cinema and the Mill.
The first, the Granite City Cinema, was built in 2010 and used 4.6 million dollars of TIF funds. STLNPR.org. "How are things in Granite City?"
Tax increment financing, TIFs, allows cities to spend money based on potential future earnings. The idea is to increase economic development for an area by leveraging what the city believes will be the future earnings. But if a TIF fails to spur economic growth, taxpayers of the city are forced to pay for the TIF and the interest. ICMA.org. Understanding-tax-increment-financing
And without growth in the downtown, the people of Granite City will be footing the bill.
Unfortunately in the last ten years, the Cinema has lost $338,000. The following are links to the City’s fiscal reports for the years of 2024-2015.
Granite City Fiscal Report 2024
Granite City Fiscal Report 2023
Granite City Fiscal Report 2022
Granite City Fiscal Report 2021
Granite City Fiscal Report 2020
Granite City Fiscal Report 2019
Granite City Fiscal Report 2018
Granite City Fiscal Report 2017
Granite City Fiscal Report 2016
Granite City Fiscal Report 2015
The other major investment, the Mill, a music venue that seats about 220 people, has a liquor license, and cost 2.2 million dollars using redevelopment funds from the business district, opened in late 2022. KSDK.com $2.2 million entertainment venue, district coming to downtown Granite City
With that large of an investment it would be assumed to generate revenue back into the city, but it has not.
The Mill has yet to show any revenue or sales from tickets or concessions. In fact in the City’s yearly budget audit, it continues to show expenditures but has yet to show any revenue. Granite City Budget 2022-2025 [Pages 21, 22]
In 2024, There are two entries for the revenue of the Mill as of May 2024, a HOTEL/MOTEL TAX of $65,000, which was historically just in the general revenue for the city, and $325,000 TRANSFER FROM OTHER FUNDS.
In 2023, the Mill showed no revenue, and only expenditures of $113,000. Granite City Fiscal Report 2023
In 2022, there are no records of the financial activity for the Mill.
The worst part is that the city charges full price for anyone to hold events there, even charities. The local school district does not have access to it either. This needs to change.
Making money is not a crime, but doing so at the expense of the population has only increased the city’s problems. We cannot have the local government invest millions of dollars on a few properties and not open its doors to the community without first paying thousands of dollars.
Ending the expansion of video gaming terminals liquor sales which does not empower the people.
Granite City has seen an increase in both liquor licenses and VGT (Video Gaming Terminals). Granite City currently has 83 Liquor License's, 1 liquor license for every 322 people. Illinois Liquor License Database. Video game terminals have increased to 178, 1 for every 150 people. And from August 2020 to August 2024 the population of Granite City lost $25,536,150.27. During this time period the city of Granite City made only 5% of that revenue at $1,278,778.25. Illinois Video Gaming Revenue Reports. Granite City should not be investing into liquor licenses and video gaming terminals at such a high rate. We need to invest into businesses that do not prey on our population and instead empower them.