car dealer welfare

[Diamond Dog]

As a San Mateo resident, I am offended that our city council is even giving consideration to shelling out $$$$$$ to a local car dealer so he can sell crappy Fords to the general public. There's probably a reason why most of th Ford dealers in San Mateo Cty have been shut down in recent years.

This deal is a loser for everyone but the car dealer.

[Roscoe_Beedle]

Only thing I'd like to add here, Dog, is there are some really good autos from Ford. The new Mustang, the GT, is a marvel. Great engine, great styling. The full sized Trucks, especially the F-250 and up, and the diesels, are superior to anything out there.

I have a '96 full size Bronco with the 351 ci engine (5.8 liter) that still tools around down in Arizona. My son drives that thing everywhere in the desert of Tucson. It is bullet proof. The air conditioner is still the original and never serviced. And it works like it was new. 195,000 miles and never had more than a few tune ups. Try that in a Lexus.

There are some really good quality solid engineered vehicles in that fleet. Not all, but some are world class.

[Diamond Dog]

Only thing I'd like to add here, Dog, is there are some really good autos from Ford. The new Mustang, the GT, is a marvel. Great engine, great styling. The full sized Trucks, especially the F-250 and up, and the diesels, are superior to anything out there.

I have a '96 full size Bronco with the 351 ci engine (5.8 liter) that still tools around down in Arizona. My son drives that thing everywhere in the desert of Tucson. It is bullet proof. The air conditioner is still the original and never serviced. And it works like it was new. 195,000 miles and never had more than a few tune ups. Try that in a Lexus.

There are some really good quality solid engineered vehicles in that fleet. Not all, but some are world class.

Didn't mean to insult the Ford, the original American car. We can thank unions and corporate greed for their massive decline in quality and popularity. But that's for another thread. :)

My point is regardless of what kind of car, our city funds should be going elsewhere rather than supporting an organization that sells cars. I don't see one socially imperative or redeeming thing about this business.

I can't find the link to the story, but it was in the Daily J last week. One city council member actually was considering it.

[Roscoe_Beedle]

OK, Diamond.

But as far as no "socially imperative" need for these car dealers you are wrong there. That Mike Harvey operation brings in over 20 percent of the business revenue to the City of Burlingame. If they were to lose that one operation they would have to close down services here and there. These car dealers, whether you like them or not, make the City big dollars. And that's the name fo the game. Tax revenues come from the private sector - always.

Sometimes it makes sense to "invest" public money into the private sector to encourage business. Look at the Airport. Look at Candlestick Park. Stanford University owns Stanford Mall. They generate tremendous revenue from that.

All Cities have a stake in the private sector thriving. It is also not unusual for business interests to ask the City to invest in expansion or improvement to increase revenue. Burlingame should consider this request seriously. Could mean more tax revenue in the long run.