Aurora council preparing to approve nearly $4 million for Mayor Irvin's major campaign donors
The City of Aurora’s finance committee approved proposals for $2.6 million in taxpayer funding to JH Real Estate for redevelopment plans, and $1.2 million to Scientel Solutions for electronic license plate readers and surveillance cameras
The partners behind JH Real Estate have donated more than $67,000 to Mayor Irvin, and spent $6,000 contributing to 4 other city council members
Scientel Solutions and its employees have donated almost $170,000 to Mayor Irvin, making Scientel his top campaign donor, and spent $27,350 contributing to 6 other city council members
This week, Aurora's finance committee advanced recommendations for almost $4 million in taxpayer funding to two of Mayor Irvin’s major campaign donors. $2.6 million in incentives is planned for JH Real Estate to put towards restaurants and apartments in Downtown Aurora, and a $1.2 million contract is planned for Scientel Solutions for electronic license plate readers and another 68 video surveillance cameras to be deployed across Aurora.
JH Real Estate
JH Real Estate, owned by partners Harish Ananthapadmanabhan and Jay Punukollu, is planning to add 3 new restaurants in and around the Hobbs building on River St. in Downtown Aurora. For this project the city is preparing a $1 million forgivable city loan, and another $1.3 million loan to be paid back by the developers over 13 years. The city initially gave the $300,000 Hobbs building to the developers for free in 2019 and has already approved $3 million in taxpayer subsidies, and a new TIF district, in the original redevelopment deal for the Hobbs property.
The city is also preparing $300,000 in taxpayer subsidies for JH Real Estate to add 15 residential apartments on top of the brewery that is currently being developed at 110 Cross St, also in Downtown Aurora.
Since Irvin’s ascension to the mayoral office in 2017, the partners behind JH Real Estate have donated more than $67,000 to Irvin through his mayoral campaign account and his PAC, Build R Future. In the same time period, JH Real Estate has continuously received millions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies for redevelopment deals throughout Aurora.
Additionally, the group has recently donated to the campaigns of several Aurora city council members, who give the final votes of approval for these deals. This involves $2,000 to Alderman-at-Large Sherman Jenkins, including a $1,000 donation in January of this year, another $1,000 donation to 8th ward Alderwoman Patty Smith in January of this year, a September 2022 donation of $1,000 to 1st ward Alderman Emmanuel Llamas, and July 2022 donations of $2,000 to 5th ward Alderman Carl Franco.
One of the partners, Harish, is also the owner of APS Training Academy, a partner in the City of Aurora’s new STEAM training programs. Uncover Aurora previously detailed this relationship, and the concerning ties the company has to city staff and current Aurora council members, in a report earlier this year. You can find that article by clicking here.
Scientel Solutions
The committee also approved the proposal for a $1.2 million contract to Scientel Solutions. The funding would go towards electronic license plate readers for the Aurora Police Department and an additional 68 surveillance cameras to be placed throughout the city. According to an estimate provided by city staff at the finance meeting, this would bring the total number of Scientel cameras throughout Aurora to around 300.
This million dollar contract comes just months after the Aurora council approved 3 other contracts with Scientel Solutions totaling more than $1.3 million in November 2022. The funding for those contracts went towards the purchase of 70 surveillance cameras to be placed at the Aurora River's Edge Park near Downtown, ongoing maintenance of the city’s IT infrastructure, and internet and additional surveillance cameras at an East Aurora community center.
Four days before the council approved the November contracts, Scientel’s CEO, Nelson Santos, and his wife donated $12,000 to Mayor Irvin’s campaign account. I spoke out at the time about this pay to play relationship between Mayor Irvin and Scientel during public comment. You can hear my remarks below.
Since Scientel’s arrival in Aurora in early 2017, the company, its employees, and its CEO have donated nearly $170,000 to Mayor Irvin’s campaign account or PAC, Build R Future, making them Mayor Irvin’s single largest campaign donor. As in the case of JH Real Estate detailed above, Scientel has in turn received millions of dollars in taxpayer funded contracts through the City of Aurora and more than $200,000 in ad-hoc payments for things like golf sponsorships, and the purchase of thermal cameras by the city during the 2020 COVID crisis.
In addition to the donations given to Mayor Irvin, Scientel has also become a major donor for many of the current Aurora council members. Alderman-at-Large Sherman Jenkins has received $8,100 from Scientel, including $2,500 during a recent January 2023 donation. Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman gained $11,600 during his competitive 2021 council race. 5th ward Alderman Carl Franco has collected $3,150, 10th ward Alderwoman Schweta Baid gained $2,000, 2nd ward Alderwoman Juany Garza got $1,500, and 1st ward Alderman Emmanual Llamas has received $1,000.
All of the measures passed the committee 4-0, with Alderman Sherman Jenkins absent from the vote. The proposals will now move onto the agenda for the full council to review at the city's Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday March 7, 2023.
Sources:
March 2, 2023 Finance Committee Audio & Agenda Details: click here
Original RDA Agreement for Hobbs building: click here
Authorization for use of $3.0 million in public funding for the Hobbs Redevelopment Project: click here
Mayor Irvin’s Mayoral Campaign Contributions: click here
Mayor Irvin’s PAC Contributions: click here
Alderman-at-Large Sherman Jenkins Campaign Contributions: click here
Alderman-at-Large Ron Woerman Campaign Contributions: click here
10th Ward Alderwoman Shweta Baid Campaign Contributions: click here
8th Ward Alderwoman Patty Smith Campaign Contributions: click here
5th Ward Alderman Carl Franco Campaign Contributions: click here
2nd Ward Alderwoman Juany Garza Campaign Contributions: click here
1st Ward Alderman Emmanual Llamas Campaign Contributions: click here