Democrats oppose Patrick on grant (Columbus Center)

[Eugene]

Source: Boston Globe

Democrats oppose Patrick on grant
Columbus Center $10m draws fire

By Andrea Estes, Globe Staff | July 7, 2007

Governor Deval Patrick's decision to steer $10 million
in economic development funds to the private Columbus
Center complex has angered House Democrats who have
repeatedly refused to support the controversial and
increasingly expensive development with taxpayer money.

The grant was championed by Senator Dianne Wilkerson,
a strong Patrick ally and supporter of the project, who
was rebuffed by the Legislature two years ago when she
tried to include $4.3 million for the development in
an economic stimulus package.

"The developer is asking the taxpayers to subsidize his
profit margin," said Representative Martha M. Walz, a
Democrat who represents the Back Bay. "That is
offensive to me and not an appropriate use of our tax
dollars. We don't pay taxes to make developers
richer."

Patrick administration officials and Wilkerson defended
public investment in a project that developers say will
create thousands of jobs and rejoin two of the city's
most vibrant neighborhoods, the Back Bay and South
End.

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Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/07/07/democrats_oppose_patrick_on_grant