Keep Tax Millions Home: Vote NO on the TIF

The City Council voted for a $2.3 million TIF for Gloucester Crossing on Dec. 3. Those millions are sorely needed for City services, and citizens request that our tax money stay home. The petition now circulating calls for a Citizen's Referendum, where 10% of the electorate, or 2100 voters, ask the Council to either rescind their vote, or put the TIF question to the voters.

Petitions are sited at many businesses around town, and are due in by 24 December. Sign today.

If you want to help in the citizen effort, call John at 978-473-9742 or email him at
jdopaint@yahoo.com . Many hands are needed!

If you are too busy to pitch in at this time, that's fine. Just sign a copy of the petition and mail it in to:

Glosta Tea Party
PO Box 91
Gloucester, MA 01931-0091



Background:

DeMoulas grossed approx. $2.6 billion in 2007. Of their 60 stores in Mass., only one received a TIF from the local city. Development at Gloucester Crossing is well under way. DeMoulas has been trying to open a store here for years, which they can do without a TIF from the City.

The State MORE Grant for $2 million awarded last June had an Assisted Living Facility as Phase I of Gloucester Crossing. See http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/pdffiles/certificates/061507/13379feir.pdf

Lots of locals have spoken and written against the TIF. The Following letters to the Editor and articles appeared in the Gloucester Daily Times this summer and fall:

12/10/08
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_344215409.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_337231426.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_336223713.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_335211340.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_329223322.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_309215948.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_289223221.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_286222720.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_276215133.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_276124622.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_272234608.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_263225556.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_261223444.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_258223039.html
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/archivesearch/local_story_180003705.html

a YouTube video by local videographers Ferrini and Smith show clear cutting of the vernal pond on the mall site:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4f2w6_LYNg

and the work done by the No Free Lunch for Gloucester Crossing group worked against the TIF:

http://nofreelunchforgloucestercrossing.blogspot.com/