Growing while Shrinking

I've been hearing a lot of people saying we need all this frivolous spending downtown to help the city grow. It hasn't worked in decades, what makes you people think it will work now? We are laying off policemen at a time when they are really stretched thin as it is. We have a crime rate higher than the national average now; is the new police station going to solve that? Will sticking money into the Freight House get all the potholes fixed? How about subsidizing the River Center, the Adler, the Figge Museum, and the parking ramps? If only one of these endeavors would net a profit without hand-outs it would be different.
Every census we lose population. Every year, we lose business. Every election voter apathy leads to lousy turn-outs by people who vote their party regardless of who the better person running is. Very few of us actually study the candidates, the issues and promises, then make a concious effect to elect the best candidate.
I'm self-employed, and do not consider Davenport a business freindly city. I would much rather work in Bettendorf, Eldridge, Chicago, or any number of other towns around us. The city has created this feeling due to extra fees, taxes, inspections, costs and restrictions that aren't there in other places.
Implementing the storm water fee, and raising the tax base by almost doubling it, and the automated trash fiasco will all add to everyone's expenses. All this while having to make cuts to police and fire to assure basic services is a joke. We need someone down there who knows how to balance a budget.