Senator Taffy Howard (R-34/Rapid City) sent me a press release this morning announcing that she and her compatriots on the “No Free Rides Committee” will hold a press conference next week to explain to public why they should vote against the Libertyland Tax Increment Finance District. The anti-TIF event takes place Tuesday, November 18, 1 p.m. Mountain, at Rapid City Hall, 300 6th Street.
Serving on this committee, which collected 4,326 valid signatures to refer this TIF to a vote on January 20, is Tonchi Weaver, one of Howard’s fellow Black Hills right-wingers and an avid petitioner. Also serving on the committee is Jay Davis, a loyal Democrat and an avid petitioner. Weaver and Davis are listed not only as committee members but as press contacts.
I welcome debate over the merits of using tax dollars to finance a theme-park facsimile of the Black Hills (because, what, Deadwood, Keystone, and Hill City don’t offer sufficiently authentic Black Hills experiences?). But one of the unexpected merits of this government-largesse-dependent projects is its ability to bring liberals and conservatives together in a civic crusade.
By the way, the No Free Rides website isn’t bad… and their poster is great:
Pro Dakota/Disney
It is beautifully designed.