Developer Ben Ganther's tax deliquency causes problems for tenants
Developer Ben Ganther is making news again for not paying his taxes. This time the Oshkosh Northwestern is reporting here and here that the tenants at Cranky Pat’s Pizza in Ganther’s 100 N. Main building in Oshkosh may have to close because Ganther hasn’t paid his taxes and the city may withhold their liquor license as a result. Some people, me included, have been complaining for several years about Ganther’s tax delinquency and the problems it causes for others. There was speculation even before this business opened last year about how his then unpaid taxes might affect the liquor license at this location.
It’s common knowledge that a lot of business owners who are delinquent in their taxes choose that option as a business strategy so they can use their money elsewhere until the last possible moment. It’s not right in any situation, but in Ganther’s case he’s doing it in a TIF district, which makes it even more disgraceful and insulting. Additionally, I wonder, does this man not have any conscience at all to care how his poor business decisions affect others, including those who are paying him rent each month?
There was a similar situation when Two Brothers Restaurant was in their old location adjacent to the Howard Johnson’s Motel. The restaurant operators had no control over the taxes being paid or not paid, but they were looked down upon anyway as being somewhat to blame. In this case the owners of Cranky Pats were well aware of the business tactics Ganther employed. Some might have viewed it as too much of a gamble to deal with someone who purposely manipulates the city. These owners evidently decided to take a chance; now they may pay the price for that decision.
When are people, including Oshkosh city fathers, going to stop doing business with Ben Ganther? Most landlords run credit checks on prospective tenants. In cases like this, where your livelihood is somewhat dependent on how the landlord conducts his business, maybe prospective tenants should run a check on the landlord. Where Ben Ganther is concerned, a simple search of archived news articles or city/county tax records would do the trick.
It’s common knowledge that a lot of business owners who are delinquent in their taxes choose that option as a business strategy so they can use their money elsewhere until the last possible moment. It’s not right in any situation, but in Ganther’s case he’s doing it in a TIF district, which makes it even more disgraceful and insulting. Additionally, I wonder, does this man not have any conscience at all to care how his poor business decisions affect others, including those who are paying him rent each month?
There was a similar situation when Two Brothers Restaurant was in their old location adjacent to the Howard Johnson’s Motel. The restaurant operators had no control over the taxes being paid or not paid, but they were looked down upon anyway as being somewhat to blame. In this case the owners of Cranky Pats were well aware of the business tactics Ganther employed. Some might have viewed it as too much of a gamble to deal with someone who purposely manipulates the city. These owners evidently decided to take a chance; now they may pay the price for that decision.
When are people, including Oshkosh city fathers, going to stop doing business with Ben Ganther? Most landlords run credit checks on prospective tenants. In cases like this, where your livelihood is somewhat dependent on how the landlord conducts his business, maybe prospective tenants should run a check on the landlord. Where Ben Ganther is concerned, a simple search of archived news articles or city/county tax records would do the trick.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 11:41 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home