The NIZ, Regurgitation and Digestion

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Mayor Pawlowski has offered the discontented surrounding municipalities a guaranteed return of their EIT in exchange for dropping the collective lawsuit against the arena project. He would use Parking Authority funds to replenish that loss of revenue. This blog has often referred to the Parking Authority as a Frankenstein that preys on Allentown's poorest residents. The Authority already has the debt service of two recent parking decks; The deck next to City Hall and the deck at 6th and Linden, which was to serve the Arts District. What were they thinking and what is the Arts District? If this scheme comes to pass, the Parking Authority would turn from aggressive to predatory. Bernie O'Hare had an intriguing post today that suggests that the NIZ was really authored by J.B.Reilly, it's chief beneficiary. When one factors in the exclusionary fact that only Allentown qualifies for this law, property owners may have been improperly threatened with eminent domain, $20 million hand money was given to one private developer before any guidelines were publicly announced, would a visit by the Attorney General be in order? UPDATE: 9:40pm> Bernie O'Hare in his post speculated that the NIZ would unfairly drain tenants from other office complexes throughout the valley. I question how successful the NIZ offices will really be? So far, only tenants connected with Reilly have expressed interest. Is Allentown better served by the Hospital Network moving to an office building at 7th and Hamilton, or making a renewed commitment to 17th and Chew Streets? If Reilly builds the office buildings on speculation, will we end up paying for the empty space in some way? According to Pat Browne and Jenn Mann, the NIZ rules are too complicated for us simple folk to understand. How many more surprises can we afford? I read several times that nobody wants to see the project stopped after this much progress. Perhaps the taxpayers of Allentown would be better served by a hole in the ground, rather than an unregulated monster stuffing our taxes in a few private pockets.
UPDATE: My comment #6 at 6:40am.

we had success with heydt's hole, eventually the PPL Plaza was built. although pawlowski's hole would be much bigger, and have cost much more, eventually private developers would build real buildings for a real market. with hockey only 40 nights a year, and the Sands already having booked first rate acts as a draw to their casino, the arena is doomed to failure. the hotel is a moronic pipe dream. who would want to deal with 7th and hamilton for a medical appointment? after 5 years of failure, the arena authority will hire a new manager. in 10 more years, allentown will tear it down. i prefer leaving an expensive hole.