Development projects vs human needs: Kent County Commissioners vote to put more public dollars into private hands

On Thursday, the Kent County Commission demonstrated their own commitment to giving away public funding for private gain……..more than once. Kent County Commissioners voted on three separate items, all of which revealed their allegiance to Neo-liberal capitalist principles.

Before I get to the three votes from the Kent County Commission, it is worth noting that Josh Lunger, head of government affairs for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, got up to speak during public comment before the commissioners voted on critical agenda items from Thursday County Commission meeting. Lunger, who was sitting with Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss and chatting with her before he got up to speak, was one of the main protagonists in the City of Grand Rapids decision to adopt ordinances that further criminalized the unhoused.

At 45 minutes and 20 second into the Kent County Commission meeting, Lunger got up to say the following, regarding the items that the County would be voting on 1) giving the Arena Authority governance to operate the outdoor Amphitheater, 2) giving $15 million in public money for the Amphitheater project, and 3) approving a memorandum of understanding relating to the proposed soccer stadium – “These transformational amenities are tools to attract talent and raise the quality of life for all residents.” 

Ok, so can somebody explain to me or provide me with concrete evidence that amphitheaters and soccer stadiums attract people? People move to places because of a job, because of family/friend connections, or because of the schools they want to send their kids to. Also, how do amphitheaters and soccer stadiums raise the quality of life for all residents? I mean, does anyone really believe such non-sense? Does Josh Lunger even believe this shit? People have their quality of life raised by making a living wage, by have their basic needs met, by living in communities that prioritize making sure that basic needs are met over development projects that are promoted by the rich, often at the public’s expense. 

Voting in favor of transfer public funds to private interests

At 1:40:20 in the video of the Kent County Commission meeting from last Thursday, is where the commissioners begin their discussion on 1) giving the Arena Authority governance to operate the outdoor Amphitheater, 2) giving $15 million in public money for the Amphitheater project, and 3) approving a memorandum of understanding relating to the proposed soccer stadium. Let’s take a look at each of these votes.

Item 1 – The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Arena Authority already oversees the arena and the Convention Center, projects that also involved millions in public funding that have primarily benefited the private sector. The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Arena Authority is made up of a 6 member board. Those 6 board members include ,2 politicians – Mayor Bliss and Kent County Chair Mandy Bolter; Lew Chamberlin, the CEO of the West Michigan Whitecaps; Birgit Klohs, former CEO of the Right Place Inc., Michael Verhulst, with Acrisure Benefits Group (the company that bought the naming rights to the Amphitheater); and David Winn, Chairman of AHC Hospitality, which is owned by the DeVos family. So, we have 4 members of the Capitalist Class and 2 politicians, both of which have a history of defending the interests of the Capitalist Class.

Item 2 – The Kent County Commission voted 16 – 2 in favor of giving $15 million in public money to the Amphitheater project. This brings the total of public money to $114 million out of an estimated $184 price tag for the 12,000 seat outdoor Amphitheater. The majority of the County Commissioners voted to give $15 million in public money because they also believe in the unsubstantiated claim that having places like the Amphitheater will “attract talent.” In contrast, what if the Kent County Commission had voted to provide $15 million in rental assistance to families who can’t afford the high cost of rent. What if the County Commissioners voted to invest $15 million of public money into a more robust transit system or invest in solar panels for Kent County residents. Housing, transportation and energy costs are clearly more urgent that funding an outdoor Amphitheater, yet local governments continue to direct public money to these development projects time and time again.

Item 3 – The last item that the Kent County Commissioners voted unanimously on, was to Support the Memorandum of Understanding Relating to Public Soccer Stadium. You could use the same shitting arguments for the soccer stadium as they have used for the Amphitheater – talent attraction, tourism, and entertainment. Plus, the soccer stadium will also use public money, even though it will be owned privately, probably by Dan DeVos, who already owns multiple sports teams. 

Of course all of the local news reported on these decisions by the Kent County Commissioners. However, their reporting was celebratory without any critical inquiry, analysis or discussion about what is prioritized in this community and what isn’t. When the unhoused population grows, since the City and the County both prioritize development projects over basic human needs, they will just keep adopting ordinances to further criminalize and marginalize those who are housing insecure.