This is the Insurgent Radio Kiosk for Thursday, November 28th
Hightower Commentary
Action Calendar
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How Trump’s poverty subsidy enriches the rich
Breaking news: Donald Trump has inadvertently said something true!
He recently exulted that his special tax incentives to spur investment in poverty projects have gone “beyond anything that anybody… even thought.” So true! His “Opportunity Zone” tax breaks are financing such “anti-poverty” projects as a Superyacht Marina on the toney waterfront of West Palm Beach, Florida. Who would’ve thought?
Named Rybovich, this project is a “luxurious resort-style” marina that will accommodate the $100-million, football-field-sized yachts of the superrich. Not your typical poverty zone. It’s being developed by Wayne Huizenga Jr., – the politically-connected billionaire who inherited a fortune last year from his father, a corporate baron who had owned Blockbuster Video and was a major donor and plutocratic pal of Donald Trump. Father and son were also big money backers of Rick Scott, the notoriously sleazy Republican governor of Florida, who had authority under Trump’s Opportunity Zone program to designate which poverty areas were eligible for the multimillion-dollar tax subsidies. Obviously, an opulent superyacht marina does not qualify.
But… money talks. Huizenga Jr. simply asked his buddy the governor to give the tax break to him, and – shazam! – Scott waved his magic gubernatorial wand and transformed the posh marina into a poverty zone – an area in which Huizenga himself had just bought a $5-million house. The tax subsidy he’s been given could cover the cost of that house – but we won’t know, since Trump’s law requires no discloser of who gets how much of a tax handout.
Even more disgusting is that, since the law limits the number of Opportunity Zone projects, slipping in the Huizenga’s luxury Marina meant that an actual poverty-stricken area in Florida got rejected by the governor. Plutocracy in Action.
“A Trump Tax Break To Help The Poor Went To a Rich GOP Donor’s Superyacht Marina,” https://www.propublica.org/article/superyacht-marina-west-palm-beach-opportunity-zone-trump-tax-break-to-help-the-poor-went-to-a-rich-gop-donor?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter, November 14, 2019.
Hightower’s commentaries are brought to you by The Hightower Lowdown, the monthly newsletter with Hightower’s take on what Wall Street and Washington are up to. For information, visit hightowerlowdown.org.
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It’s today’s Action Calendar!
Come celebrate at WORT Community Radio’s 44th Birthday Bash on Sunday, December 1st, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Crucible, 3116 Commercial Avenue. Professor Pinkerton of Dead Man’s Carnival will bring his Irrelevant Orchestra from Milwaukee to headline the festivities with vaudeville jazz. Combo Noir will open the show, while Silk Circus Aerialists perform. Enjoy appetizers from Benvenuto’s Italian Grill and other guilty carnival pleasures. There will be birthday cake! Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased at WORT, 118 South Bedford Street, or online at wort44.brownpapertickets.com. For information, phone 256-2001.
Change a life! Become a tutor! Literacy Network needs volunteers to tutor local, low-income adults to improve their writing, English language and basic computer skills. This will enable them to achieve financial security, improve their health and well-being, support their children’s education and enjoy a deeper engagement with our community. Training and support will be provided. For more information, visit litnetwork.org.
The mission of Canopy Center is to prevent child abuse and neglect, strengthen families, and promote healing of those affected by abuse. They have many volunteer opportunities. Visit canopycenter.org for more info.
The Insurgent Radio Kiosk is a four minute pre-recorded segment featuring a commentary and a calendar of daily events. Events must be low cost or non-profit and of interest to people in and around the WORT listening area. Please submit announcements at least ten days before the event at wortfm.org/kiosk/announcements.
The Kiosk is available online at wortfm.org/kiosk.
This has been the Insurgent Radio Kiosk heard weekdays at 5:00, 6:30 and 9:00 AM and at 2:00 PM. I’m Chali Pittman. Submit announcements at least ten days in advance of the event at wortfm.org/kiosk/announcements.
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