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UPDATE: Daniels places Litebox rollout on his 'Oops List'

Associated Press
December 30, 2011
Keywords
Economic Development, Economic Development Agencies, Economic Development Incentives, Elected Officials, Government, Government & Economic Development, Job Creation, Mitch Daniels
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Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is placing his early endorsement of a company that plans to make giant mobile LED screens on a list of mistakes he keeps in his office.

While talking with reporters in his Statehouse office Thursday, Daniels walked over to his desk and pulled out a notepad detailing mistakes he has made during his time in office. Looking over the "Oops List," he picked the deal to provide state aid to Litebox for its plans to build in central Indiana.

The company created by Bob Yanagihara would receive economic development aid to build massive screens rising out of tractor trailers if it delivers the promised jobs.

Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard touted Litebox's plans to bring more than 1,000 jobs to central Indiana in an October news conference. But news reports later uncovered Yanagihara's financial troubles in California and problems with his Indiana business plan.

"I went to an event, that in retrospect I probably would have waited longer to see" if it worked, Daniels said Thursday.

The governor noted that the state is not on the hook for any money if Yanagihara does not follow through with his promised jobs. 

On Friday, Daniels spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said the governor still supports the project. He said his concerns were only about publicly endorsing the project before it had shown any results.

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  • It is all a joke
    jjDecember 30, 2011 6:54 AM
    Ha,ha,ha, Mitch this is all a joke to you. You have money from IPL, and Lilly, we the people pay to make you and your friends happy and wealthy. Your smirk and bad joke with regard to the 320mill makes me sick. You have created lots of jobs in your own mind, but not in reality. You have a "beautiful mind".
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Oops List
    DaveDecember 29, 2011 7:51 PM
    All local politicians should add Carbon Motors to their "Oops List". This is a dead end for many reasons. If this is a good deal, where is the outside investment? Like Solyndra, it depends on government support to survive.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Add Angies List to Governors "Oops List"
    SeanDecember 29, 2011 2:53 PM
    The IPO endorsement and millions in government assistance for Angies List should also make the governors "Oops List".

    Expect the streak of 16 straight years of company & investor losses to reach new heights in 2012 as political/company insiders dump stock options and short sellers swarm the public stock.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • OH REALLY!
    jjDecember 29, 2011 2:30 PM
    Mitch's list should include: IBM, 320 mill, the utility board, Charlie White, Tom Bales, Tim Durham, and who knows what else. Mitch you have socialized risk and privatized profit. Your "short man" complex has cost the state and the peopld dearly. My sales tax is higher, and the quality of education is lower. I will pay $42.00 per employee to make up for what we owe the Feds. Your idea of oops and my idea of your competance is on the same level.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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  1. So the Mayor adds another non value added layer to having a vehicle towed? Whereby the City Government RECIEVES AN ILLEGAL KICKBACK FROM A LGOISTICS COMPANY THAT SUBS THE WORK TO LOCAL TOW COMPANIES? What is the service the City performs for receiving the "tribute"? This is RICO!!!!! What a corrupt and unnecessary layer. What a dirtbag Mayor and his cronies.

  2. Owner occupied housing. Clear enough?

  3. So people think I am paranoid. It's from experience in dealing with puds requested by developers who make major donations themselves to representatives, have nice fund raisers for those running for office and hide through pac's. then there are the public relation firms. You will note some pr comments below. You there Clyde Lee? My opinion. Commercial along 421, great. Multifamily housing, terrible idea that will change the town. Senior condos or zero lot line homes west, great. I suggest keeping all entries to commercial areas at 421. All entries to owner occupied on sycamore. Will keep the traffic on sycamore down some. Two other things. You can't trust what will be there in 10 years. Steve builds quality stuff, but areas change over time. Look at the changes at the wall mart center at 86th and 421 over the last 10 years. Look at the apartments and neighborhoods behind St Vincent's. Raintree properties WILL decrease in value if commercial and multifamily goes in near. It has already been happening around the bridges area. The houses that have been sold recently are way below market. Several deals not closed due to the Illinois construction and the whole unsurety of the bridges. It's pretty simple, Zionsville will approve the whole thing because the city council has been groomed over a LONG period of time for this. I might even suggest some are in their position as a result of this.

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  5. RKW - OK, we get it, you're paranoid. The question is, are you paranoid enough? Greg - Yes, Pittman(s) is (are) at it again. They are developers, they build things. It's what they do. So when you go to work tomorrow, Greg, you're at it again too. Cliff - Really? You moved to Indiana for its progressive architecture? That's like moving to England for the cuisine. Zionsvillain - The house you moved to was once a field or woods. I'm willing to bet folks were upset when that ground was plowed under and a house was built. But I guess now that you are in, everything should stop? "My house was OK, but the next one is sprawl." SE Guy - Please don't paint us with such a wide brush. Most reasonable Zionsville residents welcome planned, measured development.

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