Midtown Jamboree

Though critics have argued that the Midtown TIF is too speculative and costly for HISD to even consider joining, at this point Arnold is convinced of two things: the school district won't lose any current revenue to the TIF; and, without some kind of tax subsidy, redevelopment of areas like Midtown will never happen.

"I think that the extent to which we could help our city grow and develop without risking anything for school kids, then I'm willing to do that," she says.

That assumes growth and development actually occur, of course. If it doesn't, school kids might instead be bailing out the Midtown Redevelopment Authority -- which, if you think about it, would be a lesson worth learning.