Bowling up front… God knows what out back
Ok, the Jack Moran/Randy Kuhl slush fund story has taken an even weirder turn…
Today, I got a tip that in 2002, Backspin Kuhl’s buddy, Jack Moran already blew through $1.33 Million Dollars from a government loan intended for businesses affected by 9/11!!! Exactly what 9/11 has to do with bowling in Canandaigua, I’m not sure, but this is getting ridiculous!
(UPDATE - 10NBC took the last story down… here’s google’s saved version of it)
Members of our Rochester’s congressional delegation want an investigation into a program designed to help businesses impacted by September 11th. I-Team 10 has found that more than 80 local companies benefited from a government loan program. It was designed to help businesses impacted by 9-11 but how did they qualify?
After September 11th, many industries were hard-hit among them, travel and tourism. But two small business administration loan programs designed to help economic victims recover reached well beyond ground zero.
Snip…
Roseland Bowl in Canandaigua got one of the biggest loans in the area. In 2002 it received $1.33 million so the business owner, Jack Moran, could buy the building and land. “We were looking for a loan to obtain the business. I’ve been in the business for almost 35 years at the time and we wanted to sustain it and become a proprietor and business owner as opposed to a lessee owner.”
So much for letting the market decide who lives and who dies in business… Just how long has the government been bailing Jack Moran out? And why does he need $3.83 Million for a BOWLING ALLEY! What the kind of business is this really?
Mr. Kuhl, time to come clean… what the hell is going on here? You’ve got a VA closing about five minutes away from your new pet project, and your website boasts of a Congressional Art Contest… GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT!!!
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This is not intended to excuse Kuhl or Moran, but I did read somewhere that many so-called 9/11 loans have been given to companies whose businesses (including at least one that Darth Cheney has a major interest in) were not negatively impacted by 9/11. Its another form of Republican giveaways, at the taxpayers expense, to Republican enablers. Its another thing Congress ought to investigate when it has the time.
I am having a debate over Democrats’ merits vs. Republicans’ on Petrena’s Greece blog on the D&C site. I thought Republicans were against “government handouts” but it appears they’re just against handouts for anyone other than big business. The blog is titled “Civility in the blogosphere.”
Listen, people, and listen good: if we stop bowling, the terrorists win. OK? I think that’s clear enough.
Why is it titled civility in the blogosphere? I am adamantly against civility in the blogosphere.
Here, here, Exile. I live that dream every day.
I think some people are very sensitive. I am not but some are. Because I am on the D&C Editorial Board I cannot be anonymous on the blogs and so that helps keep me more diplomatic. I have been called at home on at least 5 occasions for my writing in the paper, and I’ve been chastised in e-mail twice. I have a thick skin I’ve learned.
I will be sure to go bowling this weekend for the sake of patriotism.
Oooops — Kuhl wasn’t in the Congress in 2002 when this bowling loan was made — a minor detail.
That’s not to say he and his Republican corporate-welfare pals don’t have plenty else to answer for…
No kidding Harvey… I didn’t say that he was. Kuhl bragged about the $2.5 million guaranteed loan on his website though. I’m simply stating that there appears to be a developing pattern of a Republican donor being rewarded by Republicans in congress for his campaign contributions with our tax dollars.
I don’t think Kuhl is the mastermind of this by any means, I’m sure he’s just taking orders from his superiors. Randy most certainly was in congress for this recent loan guarantee however, and if he’s taking credit for saving Roseland Bowling, he should take responsibility for it too.
And yes, he and his corporate welfare pals do have plenty to answer for (including this)
By the way, Randy states in his press release that he’s saving 36 jobs… If you do the math on a loan of $2,535,000, that breaks down to $70,416 per job. How much does the average bowling alley employee make? I’m sure it’s not even close to $70k
No wonder Republicans are against increasing minimum wage - with jobs like that who needs min wage?
Yet again this shows the Republican Mantra. “I got mine you get what’s left over”
Makes you want to look at the contributions coming out of the Airport land deal. That would be a good project - map contributions against favorable legislation or appointments from the Monroe County Republicans.
stlo7,
That is a very good idea. Maybe that will be an upcoming column…
Farming the Program…
I grew up in farm country, and out there the saying about a farmer who is better at getting USDA funds than growing crops is that he’s farming the program instead of farming his land. The Roseland Bowl isn’t a……
Speaking of upcoming columns… Jerri, you have the inside track… I’m not trying to put you on the spot (and don’t answer if you don’t feel comfortable), but how come the D&C won’t even look into this? I’ve pounded all the blogs and nobody will even entertain the thought of looking into this.
I don’t want my 15 minutes fame, I just want our paper to stand up and at the very least look into this situation.
If the D&C won’t look at the story, why not try City? Call them up or something. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the content.
That’s a really good idea… thanks Sayhar!
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