Driscoll: I'm protecting taxpayers from Destiny
SEAN KIRST
POST-STANDARD COLUMNIST
Look at it this way: Mayor Matt Driscoll sharpened the choices Thursday for voters in Syracuse.
He called on executives of Destiny USA to either start building an addition to the Carousel Center - using a $340 million private bank loan approved for Destiny last year - or get ready to pay taxes on the existing mall.
Driscoll, a Democrat, now moves closer in position on Destiny to Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins, who has said he would abandon the deal altogether. Republican challenger Joanie Mahoney, who describes Driscoll as being needlessly "adversarial," said earlier this week that she would prefer to talk things out with Destiny founder Bob Congel.
Wednesday, during an animated conversation about his years as mayor, Driscoll asked why he would be standing in Congel's way without good reason.
"If everything was so perfect, if everything was so wonderful, if all these jobs and all these things were going to happen, why wouldn't I say yes?" Driscoll said.
"This is not the Destiny that was advertised," he said. "The whole deal is based on a mall expansion of 800,000 square feet. Destiny doesn't come until after they build the mall expansion. (And) the special interests who suggest there isn't public risk or exposure, that's not only false, it's misleading. . . .
"The fact is clear: They're going from an already approved $340 million loan to now wanting to borrow only $175 million and they want the public, you and me, to make up the difference."
While Destiny officials called Driscoll "disingenuous," and Mahoney described Driscoll's City Hall as defensive and
combative, the mayor said he is under unfair attack for protecting the interests of everyday residents. He recalled shaking hands with Congel over the original financing agreement. Destiny officials, Driscoll said, always come back "wanting more."
As for being "combative," Driscoll said he'll accept that description if it's used because of his stand on Destiny, or because of his position on the proposed convention center hotel, or because he challenged Onondaga County on its formula for distributing sales tax.
In each case, he said, he defended taxpayers.
Mahoney portrays some of those actions, in the long run, as shortchanging them. She accuses Driscoll of souring the county's original agreement with the Pioneer Cos., the developer of the convention center hotel.
That assessment ignores a deeper history, Driscoll replied. He said County Executive Nick Pirro did the real souring by turning his back on the city's preference: a $90 million face-lift for the landmark Hotel Syracuse through a New Orleans-based restoration firm.
The county instead went with Pioneer to build a new hotel. At that point, Driscoll said, the city forged an agreement to compensate for the hotel's tax-free status, thanks to a $15 million state contribution obtained through state Sen. John DeFrancisco and Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli.
The state money, however, came with union stipulations, and the hotel deal has yet to come together. Mahoney blames Driscoll, while Driscoll said he had to look out for the city.
The upshot: Thousands of undecided voters must sort out whether the mayor is a man of principle or stubborn and shortsighted. Their answer will probably decide this election.
It is equally true that the race wouldn't be so tight in this heavily Democratic city except for the furor created when mayoral adviser Charlie Vinal left City Hall to start his own consulting firm. It quickly became clear that Vinal was working with Eli Hadad, a Miami investor and landlord of tumultuous repute whom Vinal had met as a city employee.
Even many Driscoll supporters questioned whether the mayor allowed Vinal to cross some murky line. While Driscoll acknowledged Wednesday that Vinal's bond with Hadad "might have involved some poor judgment," the mayor said no hidden links to Hadad will ever taint his administration.
"I am looking you dead in the eye," Driscoll said, "and telling you this is false and misleading, (this) impression . . . there is a tie. There is not."
In the end, Driscoll said he is comfortable with asking voters to remember the condition of Syracuse when he took office - the quality of public services, the appearance of the roads, the level of downtown activity - and to compare it with the city as it is today.
If he gets a second term, he said his biggest goal will be completing a $600 million, state-financed rehabilitation of the schools, a project vetoed in August by Gov. George Pataki. The governor said the bill needed more work. Driscoll maintains the veto was political sabotage.
Whatever the cause, Driscoll predicted the money will be available soon after the election. He said rebuilding the schools would lift up many children raised in poverty, while helping to both attract and anchor working families. "A strong city," Driscoll said, "is going to make a difference for this entire region."
Few voters would argue with that statement. Driscoll's challenge is convincing them that he's the best one to get it done.
Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Post-Standard. His columns appear Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Call him at 470-6015, e-mail him at skirst@syracuse.com, or visit his blog and forum at www.syracuse.com/kirst.
© 2005 The Post-Standard. Used with permission.
Posted by syracusegreens at October 28, 2005 07:42 PM