GR City Commissioners excited to spend $20 million for a golf entertainment center in the midst of a housing crisis

“Golf is a game that is primarily engaged in by white well to do businessmen who use the game to get together to make deals to carve up this country a little finer amongst themselves.” George Carlin

At Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Grand Rapids City Commissioners herd a proposal for a golf entertainment center that would cost roughly $20 million to construct. 

MLive reported on this $20 million golf entertainment center proposal and quoted two of the current Grand Rapids City Commissioners.

“Commissioner Kelsey Perdue, who represents the Third Ward where the golf course is located, said that even though it would be a costly project, it would be worth the investment if it would allow the city to grow and diversify its revenue sources.” 

“Second Ward Commissioner Milinda Ysasi called the project a “catalytic investment” that could spur economic development along the 28th Street corridor. She noted that drawing more golfers isn’t just beneficial for the city’s golf course – it would be beneficial for restaurants and other shops in the area.”

Of course it would attract people from out of town and those who make enough money to spend on this elitist game. However, when is it the job of local government to generate revenue? I thought that local government provided basic services to the community and adopted policies that would benefit the people who live here? It would appear that both Commissioners Ysasi and Perdue want the city to generate revenue. I mean, you just can’t make this shit up.

The MLive article also states that in order to pay for the $20 million cost for the golf entertainment center, “which could be paid for through a bond, and it would be completed by 2028 for the course’s 100-year anniversary.”

The MLive article also provides some insight into what the golf entertainment center would look like: 

“Marquardt described the proposed facility as a two-story building with private indoor/outdoor hitting bays that would allow players to hit balls onto a real targeted range.

Each bay would have comfortable seating, sliding glass doors and options for simulated games to allow for year-round use. There could be a restaurant and bar to serve food and drinks to visitors, Marquardt said.”

I always find it rather instructive about how governments can always find ways to use public money for projects that will primarily benefit the private sector, but then claim that we can provide single payer health care or housing for people, because how would we pay for that?

It always comes down to priorities. Golf courses and golf entertainment centers take priority over housing for individuals and families. What if the City of Grand Rapids were to issue a bond for $20 million to provide families the ability to put a $50,000 deposit on a new home? $20 million would allow 400 families the opportunity to purchase a home. 

What about renters? Let’s say for tenants who pay $1500 a month to rent, which in turn costs $18,000 a year. How many tenants could get their rent covered for a year if the City of Grand Rapids were to raise $20 million for tenants? One thousand, one hundred and 11 tenants could have their rent covered for an entire year. Imagine if that was being discussed by Grand Rapids City officials? Nope, they are talking about raising $20 million for a god damn golf entertainment center, with the expressed purpose of being “a regional tourist destination.”