A recent Op-Ed published in the Sentinel attacked the City of Aurora for a recent economic development win with Philip Morris International, complete with the bogus byline “Why does Denver get investment from technology companies, AI, healthcare, and beyond, and Aurora is given the vice industries?”
While I’m sure the author, an executive for the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, knows his facts about the dangers of illicit drugs, he’s way out of his lane when it comes to economic development.
Here are the facts: Aurora is a leader in the metro Denver area in attracting high-quality, primary employers in a variety of sectors. Since the start of 2022, Aurora has used economic development efforts to attract employers in the following industries:
- Aerospace: 555 jobs
- Manufacturing: 650 jobs
- Distribution: 720 jobs
- Production/Product Services: 468 jobs
- Data Centers: 15 jobs
This isn’t an exhaustive list and doesn’t include the thousands of new jobs Aurora has added in healthcare at the Anschutz Medical Campus, which currently employs over 16,000 people, & the dozens of other medical facilities in our City, jobs added in the defense industry supporting Buckley Space Force Base, which currently employs over 12,000, & its related missions and more.
This new Philip Morris International facility in Aurora will employ over 500 Aurorans with an average salary of $90,000. In addition to a $600 million up-front investment, this new facility will create hundreds of millions in tax revenue for the City of Aurora. Revenue that will be used to pave roads, hire police officers & fire fighters, and build new libraries for our residents. And the $7 million incentive is performance based, a small rebate of completely new taxes generated – different than a taxpayer subsidy.
The reality of being a responsible policy maker is having to meet the demands of a growing city within limited resources. As Aurora has grown, so has the demand for new city services, like new roads and other city amenities. To meet this demand, Aurora must attract primary employers to our city so we can make the transition from a bedroom suburb to a vibrant city that can meet the needs of our residents.
Our diverse economic development strategy reflects the realities of the 21st Century – we are not only competing with other cities in Colorado, but with cities across the United States. Aurora continues to be a leader in attracting high-quality employers to our City and is well-positioned to continue competing going forward.
In fact, a large portion of the residential, commercial, and industrial growth that the metro Denver region will experience in the coming decades will happen in the City of Aurora. That growth will mean less reliance on retail sales tax for the City of Aurora, which is a good thing and means we will be further insulated from economic downturns that are a drag on retail sales. But even more important, it will lead to good paying jobs, and economic mobility, right here in Aurora, so our residents will enjoy even more opportunities to live, work and play in the city they call home.
And that doesn’t happen by chance. It’s the direct result of a coordinated economic development strategy targeting a variety of sectors.
Curtis Gardner is an At-Large City Councilmember for the City of Aurora.
This is Luke Niforatos, the original author who is being rebutted here. My replies in short:
1. I’m not out of my lane on economic development. The data are clear on addiction and nicotine use that they hurt economic output and productivity. Jobs for jobs’ sake take us to a dangerous place as a society. We need GOOD jobs, not jobs that hurt people and destroy families.
2. I’m glad the city has brought jobs from other industries, but they widely publicized this and used large tax incentives for Big Tobacco and this is the wrong direction for the city. Having grown up in Aurora, I have seen time and again less than tasteful businesses attempt to take advantage of the city. I don’t want to see more of them get a green light.
3. Ultimately, Councilman Gardner’s broad point here is that jobs and development are good inherently because they bring in money – no matter the ethics or public health criteria. Sound public leadership must consider all of these criteria: what is right, what helps citizens and families financially prosper, and what is sound for public health. We cannot simply focus on one of these criteria.
He has fought to expand the open hours and locations of marijuana dispensaries, as well as now bringing Philip Morris to Aurora. I hope he will consider the other criteria I mentioned in future decisions. Drugs- legal and illegal- have a cost borne by our communities, from crime to addiction, from broken families and homes to death. We should not encourage them.
Yes he completed side-stepped (ignored) the issue at hand here. End$ do not justify means. If they did, for instance (and I absolutely don’t think they do) the world’s oldest profession in the shadow of an international airport and world class convention center, could be taxed, regulated (in the interest of health) and promoted in the interest of Aurora. It would be far safer, with the all the wonderful use$ we could tout for jobs and sales tax revenue if we regulated and safely produced meth and fentanyl.
Making money off of vice is nothing to be proud of.
It is also a Pandora’s of dependency. Tell North Carolina to stop farming tobacco. We know, it’s an absolute fact it’s harmful. But how you cripple a state’s economy. No matter how your paint a smile on this pig, gambling is addictive and a vice; and all 50 states are financially addicted. No matter what conclusions, predicted or otherwise, one draws of legalization of recreational marijuana on our state or city (and I seriously question if the cons aren’t outweighing the benefits), how could we ever put that genie back in the box?
Is Councilman Curtis’ point that we don’t have buy these pouches; after all, they clearly are not healthy. Just recoup our tax incentives, reap a windfall (like a drug cartel) and export the problems.
Gardner says the development will bring in hundreds of millions in tax revenue but doesn’t bother to let us know the source of that tax revenue. Property taxes? Occupational privilege tax? Business personal property tax? If the Philips Morris drug deal was anything like the Gaylord deal, the real winners are going to be the developers.
And don’t let him beguile you with the salary stat. The “average salary” is misleading because you’ve got a few folks in the C-suite making big bucks while the folks on the floor are probably looking at minimum wage. And while 500 new people coming to town sounds great, wait until you’re stuck in traffic behind all of them while trying to get home.
And if you think we can trust the city council to invest in infrastructure, take a seat on the two-lane Gun Club Road and wonder what happened to all the money Southlands was supposed to bring into the City’s coffers.
The appealing attached picture to this piece.
“A Swedish Match employee packaging ZYN oral nicotine pouches at the Owensboro, Ky., facility. (Photo: Business Wire)”
Then the author states “This new Philip Morris International facility in Aurora will employ over 500 Aurorans with an average salary of $90,000.” Average???
This is an example of illusionary thinking from politicians that refuse to accept or have no experience with economic truths. $90K for boxing up product? Right!
A little common sense leads to some simple research.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Swedish-Match-Owensboro-Salaries-EI_IE6056.0,13_IL.14,23_IM651.htm
You have to wonder if Phillip Morris International wrote this piece and had the Aurora politician pen his name to it.