Both Centerra’s schemers and promoters have always lauded this “public-private partnership” as if it were somehow a boon to the public. But if this is a good example, it makes of that term a red-flag for the taxpaying public; given that most of the benefit was privatized while the public is left paying much of the costs – present and future.

To this day it is maddening that there has never been an independent audit showing the total public costs to date and for the 25 years of the MFA… including local moneys spent early on infrastructure (such as a water tower), federal and state taxes that were doled out for interchange improvements (Crossroads Blvd.), increased costs to local emergency service providers, schools, etc. And I doubt there ever will be such an audit.

By the way, editor: good pick-up on the way McWhinney spreads charitable donations around to buy good will; investing comparative pennies in charity (and also local politics) to win & protect millions in profits taken from the public treasury.

MeAgain, remember both businesses and residents within McWhinney’s Centerra Urban Renewal area do indeed pay property taxes just like everyone else in the community. The only difference is the taxes are diverted away from public services and into the Metro District controlled by McWhinney.

We removed the recent posting by “Mike H.” due to the nature of the comment. The source of the comment didn’t appear to be the person he or she was pretending to be. Anyone is welcome to comment using a pseudonym so long as you are NOT pretending to be someone else by the nature of your comments.

1. This is one more example of how artificially-stimulated City growth, under the misnomer of “economic development” (as it’s so often un-economic), continues to cost residents and small businesses alike… both through declining service levels and higher taxes and fees. There are too many other examples of this to even begin to cover them all here.

2. I agree with Councilman Klassen and others that adequacy of essential services such as fire protection ought to be a higher priority than libraries and cultural amenities. This would especially be true if we had to choose between them. However, that’s a false choice because if growth was truly paying its way, we would continue to have both, without additional burdens to the taxpayer.

In fact, in light of his and others’ past support of so much in giveaways to McWhinney (hundreds of millions of $), and other croneys (like V-Net), and the “borrowing” from the City’s CEFs; all of which reduced the City’s ability to make growth pay for needed City services and infrastructure; any suggestion of support for the Fire Department now seems disingenuous.

3. Sadly, many of the strongest boosters of such growth and “economic development” have also simultaneously supported cutting CEFs that at least partially offset growth’s costs. Quietly and behind-the-scenes, some among the development interests and their friends on Council are still pressing for such reductions or elimination of the program. This is about as shortsighted as it gets, because when services and quality of life decline while costs of living increase, businesses begin to think twice about expanding here, and residents will reassess further investing their own resources.

In any event, we certainly understand Carolyn Sees-Schulz trying to defend her friends but she should be careful with the facts.

At the time Terri Fassi resigned, the accounting error and accumulated fines for the party were clear. According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, the warnings about the growing fines were sent to Fassi Financial Network. What wasn’t known at that time, but certainly suspected, were the criminal allegations against Larry Carillo for embezzling contributions.

What we failed to report in our original story was that Michael Fassi also held a title within the party at the same time his wife was Treasurer. He headed-up the party fundraising efforts.

Regarding the legal matter, we have not studied all the evidence, listened to sworn testimony or heard Michael and Terri Fassi’s side of the story so naturally our opinion can be suspect.

However, a judge has done all those things and he is the expert not us. His conclusions appear clear that both Fassi’s poached clients, directed employees to act unethically and misrepresented financial statements about the earnings of their company to artificially inflate its value to the buyers.

As a former partner of KPMG once told me, “as auditors all we have to sell is our integrity that is what you are paying us for.” So whatever time the Fassi’s have donated to the party can’t be worth much by his measure.

“I don’t think all your facts are correct. The LCRP Treasurer resigned long before the Carillo mess was discovered. I’m tired of you bad mouthing LCRP and it’s officers!”