Riverfront questions that aren’t being asked

Before City Council takes another step in the direction pointed by executives of Downtown Inc., let’s make sure councilmen are asking the right questions, especially the Republicans on whom the community most depends to make sound economic decisions.

According to the venerable free-market economist Thomas Sowell, three questions should be asked of every policy proposal:

• Compared to what?

• At what cost?

• What hard evidence do you have?

Not only has Council failed to ask these questions regarding the proposed riverfront development or any of the “quality of place” initiatives being undertaken in downtown Fort Wayne, even self-described conservatives on council have jumped to an outrageous conclusion: Because Downtown Inc. says additional riverfront construction is imperative, Council assumes it must be handled by city government.

Taken for granted is that the public wants to pay for riverfront development or that it is necessary at any cost to attract people to live in our city. If there is real demand for this sort of thing, why wouldn’t an enterprising investor take it on without incurring the delay, cost overruns and ongoing regulatory interference that invariably characterizes government operation?

One downtown restaurant did just that — and with great success. Perhaps others would follow if the city sold its sizable real estate holdings along the river. We’ll never know, because there will be no market test, only the qualified guesses of government-contracted consultants and glowing official progress reports.

So where do we stand now? The first shovel of dirt has yet to be turned for the riverfront development (a $20-million-plus park) and council leadership already is looking to expand its scope. Does anyone think it peculiar that without any real description of what it is that we will be building in Phases 2 and 3, the administration and a group of four councilmen know exactly what it will cost, that is, it will need to be bonded for $100 million?

One councilman says in a recent newspaper article he is against raising taxes for additional riverfront development. Laudable stance, but it leaves hanging important questions about Phases 2 and 3. Specifically, what hard evidence do we have that spending $100 million on waterfront development will bring people to live and work in Fort Wayne? What is the cost in terms of certain losses in private-sector commercial opportunities?

In sum, we have a leadership problem, not a development problem. Right now, rather than ask questions, council members are competing as to how best to do the bidding of the shot-callers at Fort Wayne Inc. The so-called “quality of place” projects (Skyline Tower, the Landing, Riverfront Phase One) all passed 7-2 without real discussion on the above questions or, indeed, whether any of this is an activity in which the city should be involved at all.

If the Council had independent leadership, the kind that represents a city’s long-term interests, it would turn and face in the direction of those policies that have proven for over hundreds of years to attract the confidence of investors and job-creators — that is, policies that ensure a focus on property rights, rule of law, keeping government small and regulation light, and above all avoid competing with private industry.

Republican Jason Arp is the City Councilman for the 4th District of Fort Wayne.