Perhaps you listened to the part of the WLBK mayoral candidates’ forum last month when I challenged the notion that installation of the synthetic skating rink had translated into more downtown shopping dollars (an argument for its purchase)–in which case you then heard in response the sound of our then-acting-mayor waving a sheet of paper he purported was proof.

I’m pretty sure Mayor-elect Povlsen was flapping this, a piece of the Re:New DeKalb Spring 2009 Report. I can’t swear to it, because he didn’t respond to a request to provide the information. At any rate, the aforementioned document deserves a close look, seeing as we taxpayers have spent $5.5 million on the downtown over the past four years (see p. 21).

The report does show steady growth in downtown sales, downtown sales tax collected, and the downtown’s percentage of citywide sales from 2005 to the end of 2008, but do the data indicate the skating rink–or any other single improvement–brought more shoppers downtown? Read the rest of this entry

Restaurant and bar owners who initially embraced the mayor-elect’s idea to allow al fresco wining and dining are reportedly a tad less enthusiastic now it’s become clear the city intends to charge rent for sidewalk space.