Category Archives: City Politics

Beebe continues the corruption legacy?, Boozman record, City Politics, Education Morass

National, state, & local corruption examples

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A microcosm why our union cannot & will not survive.  These few examples appeared today 10/4/11 in 2 Arkansas newspapers. Let’s travel from D.C. to Fort Smith.

Presidential candidate Herman Cain castigated 3 of the Republican candidates for demanding an audit for the Federal Reserve, while 2 of the 3 wanted the U.S. out of the Federal Reserve.  Research into why Cain would castigate fellow candidates in a very harsh, mean-spirited diatribe, shows that Cain was a former Director of the Kansas City Federal Reserve, which in my view makes him a bedfellow of Wall Street.

Senator John Boozman, the Travellin’ Man, just returned from Afghanistan.  In Boozman’s 10 year sojourn in the U.S. Congress, coming up on 3 years in the U.S. Senate, he has made, many times accompanied by his wife, about a hundred international trips courtesy of the taxpayers.  Can you imagine the cost of these safaris?  Note Boozman has been associated with NATO (the global army) since his early days in the congress. Boozman has trashed the Constitution numerous times and can only be described as a Neo-con—“eternal war for eternal peace”, and acting at the behest of Israel.  Constitutionally, economically and morally he is bankrupt. In 2008 he was in D.C. only 39 days.

Moving on down to Little Rock, Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe weighs in on the Ark. Game & Fish Commission demanding a raise for their employees, actually it should be said the citizens’ employees. In typical Beebe fashion of never taking a public position, he says “let me do some cogitating”.  Governor, a people’s suggestion regarding pay raises for Game & Fish…give them a raise, a swift kick in the ass, that’s the only “raise” they need or deserve.  Citizens, this is the same bunch that a few months ago it was determined that Game & Fish had more than one car per employee which once again shows vividly that Gov. Beebe is on top of things. The audacity & arrogance in asking for a raise when the providers are struggling mightily.  If said employees don’t like their present pay and want to quit, by all means quit.  Most are perhaps not needed & could be replaced in 24 hours.

Enter Fort Smith: City Administrator Gosack, a majority of City Directors, and any number of insiders are offering up tax increases by the numbers:

1.    Prepared Food Tax…..2. Marshall’s Museum….3. Marshall’s Statue….4. Subsidizing Garrison Ave. businesses….5. The West End….6. Water Park….7. Softball fields, etc.

Enter UAFS Chancellor Paul Beran and his schemes…Mallalieu Academy of Excellence, the Entrepreneurial School, his Globalist Chinese trips, long costly trips for UAFS volleyball team, electronic billboards, primetime TV & print media advertising.  There is no bottom to the money-pit.

The GAO released these statistics: (If these stats don’t move you into an erect position you are comatose)  In California, Texas, Florida, N.Y. & Ohio natural born Americans are about to become a minority.  Third Worlders who have ambushed our republic all have a philosophy somewhere between Socialism and Marxist Communism & translates to a one party system…guess which one.  Failure to uphold Immigration law 8 USC has all but destroyed our once preeminent republic—all caused by long term congression Whites with a few Blacks sprinkled in who were & are willing to sell their souls for position and money instead of securing our borders thereby insuring our sovereignty and the demands of our Constitution.  Arkansas is home to 3 of these sell-outs, Senators Pryor & Boozman & Rep. Ross.

Occurrences such as these are now every day.  So continue the stupidity of supporting Party Politics and reelecting politicians for decades and you guarantee the demise of our republic.

Joe McCutchen
arkansasfreedom.net  

City Politics, Education Morass

Another scheme to grow government schools

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Beran and his sucker-punch—another costly scheme by a career bureaucrat.    September 20, 2011

Chancellor Beran is on the stump again for another government boondoggle. He is calling it the Mallalieu Center for Academic Excellence, allegedly for “at risk” children aimed at minorities.  
The Fort Smith public school system has every educational tool and the facilities & staff to implement them known to mankind.

 Beran’s proposal might be called more double-dipping. What is F.S. Superintendent Dr. Benny Gooden’s position on the invasion into the public school’s domain?  Just how much more can the taxpaying producers cough up in the name of “education”, “it’s for the children”, etc.?  Particularly in view of the government school systems are failures.  Money does not educate and government does not produce jobs or entrepreneurs.

Beran, in a hearty burst of hot air states he is “committed to raising the private funds necessary for building the Center”.  WHAT BERAN DOESN’T SAY….WHERE DOES THE FUNDING COME FROM TO SUSTAIN IT—PHYSICAL ASSETS, STAFFING, MANTAINENCE, & SO ON.  If this boondoggle reaches fruition it will end up being subsidized by the producing public.  Shades of the “private funding” for the $50 million Marshall’s Museum where taxpayers are already on the cuff for salaries, travel, etc.

What Beran is really up to appears to be attaching his and others creative “vision” to the Univ. of Ark. Fort Smith thereby committing taxpayers to sustain it.  

Another question, what is Beran’s authority to entertain creating this resume enhancing endeavor? 

Another question is posed for the umpteenth time, why is Beran spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on a litany of primetime advertising, electronic billboards, tons of print materials, etc.?

SPENDING OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY IS THE EASIEST JOB IN THE WORLD….and in this case, another self-serving bureaucrat who doesn’t give a flip that our country is in debt over $16 TRILLION and locally jobs are disappearing daily (observe Whirlpool’s parking lot) and the city government is on spending sprees that are out of the realm of government and common sense.

Joe McCutchen
arkansasfreedom.net />
www.fortsmithtruth.com  

City Politics, Education Morass

Schools fail at teaching academics yet want to teach entrepreneurship!

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September 9, 2011
Chancellor Paul Beran and another expensive bureaucratic ABSURDITY, i.e. “The Business Incubator”.

It is indeed curious who dreams up these absurdities and what is Beran’s authority to create more programs and lay more tax burdens on our unsuspecting community?

Apparently this proposed heist has been in the works for a number of years, actually since 2007.  Beran stated that his Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center has an account balance of $187,000 in public money and this money could be used to start a “new incubator”.  Always remember that politicians’ & bureaucratic “visions” are dangerous and are always in the fore. Spending someone else’s money is the easiest job in the world.

The irony of this scheme is the ABSURDITY…all involved are bureaucrats & politicians who have banded together to create the I.E.C.

Paul Beran, Ivy Owen, and Phillip Merry appear to be the functionaries.

The proposed purpose of the scheme is ultimately to create more government fascism or commonly known as a Public/ Private Partnership where the government is always the CEO. 

Governments are in no way responsible for the business successes our Republic has enjoyed over past years; to the contrary government is totally responsible for our massive debt, uncertainty of the future, enormous unemployment, and a growing dependency on our corrupt government terminating in a loss of confidence & initiative by our citizens.

As stated in another piece, entrepreneurs are born with a genetic creative quality that demands independence,  coupled with the ability and determination to succeed.   Entrepreneurship is not taught and what Beran and his cronies are trying to create guarantees the death of real entrepreneurship.   What they are purposing is another government watchdog.

If our republic is to survive, politicians & bureaucrats must be kept under a microscope and their every move tracked.  Their only interest is maintaining their position, whether elected or appointed, with the ultimate single goal of government expansion.

Chancellor Beran, do our citizens a favor and turn your attentions to badly needed improvement in academia and quit dreaming up new ways to steal our money while broadening your power base. 

Entrepreneurs will do quite well if government stays out of their psyche, their pocket books, and removes all the evil regulations that hamstring businesses large and small.

Joe McCutchen
arkansasfreedom.net
/>
www.fortsmithtruth.com  

City Politics, Education Morass

Educators’ visions=taxpayer burdens

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August 25, 2011    The silence is deafening…and that is not a good thing re: Chancellor Beran’s alleged “vision” for the development of a Mallalieu Center for Academic Excellence apparently aimed at north-side kids.

The secrecy surrounding his proposed endeavor is indeed extremely troubling.

Educators for decades have created and sustained quasi academic programs without any discussions with the paying citizenry.  Back in the day when education was real and needs were to be met there were few questions asked about school financing because positive results usually followed.  Today the education cabals have multiplied exponentially and the results top down are dismal. On the world stage American universities rank 19th.  The personal conduct of many teachers are equally dismal, e.g. today’s Dem-Gaz announced via an FOIA that in Arkansas over 4,000 government school teachers are double dipping.  This is only in teaching, not the rest of state government employees and no telling how many that entails.

Citizens, we can no longer allow the Beran’s of this country to secretly meet, hatch up million dollar schemes and without due process dump them on unsuspecting citizens to bear their economic burdens.

The audacity of Chancellor Beran coming forth and announcing after 2 years of clandestine involvements the plans to create another mega-dollar government expansion—all in the name of education “for the children”. 

This is not the 1950’s. Education has become a self-serving, thieving dynasty. Two more examples, Arkansas school teachers & ancillary help were awarded a $90 million gift  and in the case of Fort Smith was divvied up on the last day of school with teachers receiving $700 each…all this vote buying came under the masquerade of the federal “stimulus”.  State schools are spending$10,000 + per year per student and what are we getting?  Failure, cooking the books, 50% remediation rates, cheating on test scores, lowering standards & dumbed-down indoctrinating curricula…so does another blank check to Beran make any sense?

Beran, along with some of his co-conspirators, are in all likelihood in their bunker at UAFS waiting for the time to spring the “vision” of his Academic Excellence indoctrination center.  
The real question here is simply what is going on behind the curtain regarding Beran’s comedic farce.
If Beran’s enabled theatrics were legitimate it still would not be proper to implement without taxpaying citizens’ full knowledge and approval. 

Beran has not been forthcoming regarding who his associates are in his proposed “vision”.   Beran is much too smart and a seasoned politician/fundraiser not to cover all bases. So who are the enablers who are engineering in the “end around”?

Only an educated guess can be made concerning the undisclosed participants.  Who benefits financially, politically or otherwise?  The nominees are:  Richard Griffin, Ken Pyle, Senator Jake Files, Administrator Ray Gosack, Phil White, Rep. Denny Altes, Mayor Sandy Sanders, Kevin Settle, Pam Weber, 1st National Bank, Bennie Westphal???  A number of others are possible nominees.  
Is there an involvement with New Market Tax Credits and/or Agenda 21?

The tax & spend antics of government employees can no longer be tolerated, especially in this time of economic depression.  Preserving every possible historical site is not the taxpayers’ obligation.  Mallalieu is the responsibility of those interested to donate.

Joe McCutchen

city government offenses, City Politics, FOI request and response Chancellor Beran travels

More on the Mallalieu Grasshopper

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It’s a time for genuine thought.                        August 23, 2011

Directors re: the Mallalieu church and the Center for Excellence…can we take a deep breath and have a sensible, logical discussion?  This church involvement has been going on for a decade plus…what is your hurry now?

Questions:
1.    How did the city obtain the Mallalieu church?
2.    Was money exchanged?
3.    If so, how much and where did it go?
4.    Was there a CDBG grant?  If so, how much?
5.    Were there other parcels of land bought and/or sold adjacent to the church?
6.    From fragmented information it appears the city, that’s us, will spend over ½ million to deconstruct the church, accompanied by clean-up efforts…is this correct?
7.    Does the city leadership plan to give the Mallalieu real estate to Chancellor Beran & UAFS?
8.    If so, what is the legal precedent that enables the city to give away taxpayer land to another government entity?
9.    You’ve said that Chancellor Beran and his enablers are planning to build a school complex on the Mallalieu real estate.  By what authority?

Schools, regardless of their intentions, must be approved, in this case, by the Arkansas legislature and the State Board of Education.  What is their position regarding this proposed school?

Are the public school teachers offended by Beran’s arrogance and secret involvements regarding his vision of Academic Excellence?  Who are Beran’s enablers and what is the real reason for this proposed endeavor?

Nowhere are there finite details as to where specifically the funding will come from to create this project and certainly no specifics regarding the cost to develop and to maintain.  Ultimately we citizens will be the end source of funding if we allow Beran’s self-serving motives to reach fruition.  Make no mistake, this proposed project is huge and very costly.

Speaking of funding, note in todays Times Record, that the budget for the coming year for the operation of the Fort Smith school system is $165.66 million.  Do you not think this is more than enough to levy taxpayers for education in Fort Smith, even though in some quarters it could be described as a failed process?

As was explained in an earlier piece, entrepreneurship is an inherited pre-disposition; likewise mental acuity.   An individual who is lucky enough to have been born with a keen mind will in most cases rise from the ashes of childhood—be it poverty, broken homes, etc.  In most circumstances, you cannot hide the light of intelligence.

Beran is a fundraiser/politician, nothing more, nothing less.  Certainly not an academic.  There appears to be no regard for our present failing economic circumstances.

Again, Directors, it would be in everyone’s best interest if a civil discourse was initiated regarding the proposed Mallalieu endeavor, not only for yourselves but your constituents.

Joe McCutchen

City Politics, Political Correctness - The Destroyer

Politically Correct Collectivism on local level

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Chancellor Beran and the Big Grasshopper:               August 22, 2011

The grasshopper is on the hook and it was cast out into the blue pond and any number of suckers, that’s citizens, are hittin’ the bait. 

 Most of the suckers striking the bait no doubt are not in the 49% of Americans who pay federal income tax, i.e.  all the self-serving detritus (government programs) that elitist welfare recipients such as Beran are eternally generating.  It must be a “Vision” and of course, “for the children” and additionally the creation of a Mallalieu Center of Excellence will look good on Beran’s resume’ when he opts to move on.

Citizens, you do understand that we have a government school system, formerly known as the public school system that addresses every whim of a child’s upbringing.  Beran’s inside trading in the backroom for 2 years poses the question, other than the “vision” what’s he really up to?  Is Beran really saying that his student teachers are better than the public school teachers?

Government schools of all dimensions are terribly overfunded and this certainly includes UAFS.  Now the inside elitist “welfare” recipients, i.e. most of the city government leadership, along with Beran and his type, are in the process of trying to build an 8,000 sq. ft. building on the come, stating it’s for “at-risk” kids.  Remember the city schools have and utilize all the resources that Beran is stating his new school will implement.  Again, what is he really up to?   He claims he has raised a million in secrecy.  Why in secrecy?  Again, what’s he really up to? 

No mention as to where the ongoing maintenance money of this duplicitous scheme will come from.  Certainly not private endowments.

The City Board & Beran, exactly like Obama’s Stimulus Plan, LET’S HURRY & GET THIS DEED DONE before taxpayers wake up to another tax scam.  After all, “It’s for the Children”.

More social indoctrination by Beran and his minions. 

When on earth will taxpaying citizens wake up to Politically Correct propaganda? Emotions don’t pay the bills!

Here again the City Board , along with Chancellor Beran, are engaging themselves in a huge involvement without citizen’s detailed knowledge, discussion, and understanding. This is precisely what got us into the economic crisis we are experiencing and will help shove us further into the quagmire.

The aforementioned want to ram this down the citizen’s throat while the iron is hot, absent logical civil discourse.

Is the majority of the fish in the pond hittin’ on the Grasshopper?

Joe McCutchen
arkansasfreedom.net />
www.fortsmithtruth.com  

City Politics

More “visions” requiring funding

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The Fort Smith Board of Directors, UAFS Chancellor Paul Beran, The Mallalieu Church—what’s up?
August 18, 2011

Another mushy, insignificant editorial in today’s T. R.  “City Leaders Agree to Move Plan Forward”.

The Plan later.  Some of the editor’s comments: “It was a moment of healing between the often divergent interests—or the perceived divergent interests”.  What is that statement supposed to mean?  The editorial rambles on: “when directors voted to preserve something of importance to all of us”.  How so?  What historical significance does the Mallalieu church hold except to its parishioners?  Our area abounds with 90+ year old churches.
The editor continues: “of importance to all of us in the service of increasing opportunities for young people on the north side of town”.   What opportunities could be afforded the north side kids that they do not presently have or can obtain at their beck and call?  Be specific editor, not bloviating touchy-feeling hyperbole.  
To begin with, why does the city of Fort Smith own this old church building and what has ownership cost the taxpayers?

Now enter Chancellor Beran with another “pie in the sky vision”—The Plan.  That would be the “Mallalieu Center for Academic Excellence”.  The project has Agenda 21 written all over it.  That is, to be a public-private partnership, commonly known as P3’s which is the vehicle that Agenda 21 uses to abolish private property and restrict mobility. Also are New Market Tax Credits in the embryonic plan?

Beran claims he can raise private funding and grants to build whatever he has in mind, shades of the Marshall’s Museum.   More government and more control. Beran apparently has no comprehension that our former preeminent republic is bankrupt.  The Takers (that’s politicians & bureaucrats) can only be described as the enemies of the middleclass.  Beran never alluded to what this frivolity will ultimately cost and more importantly what the cost to maintain and where the teaching staff would come from.  Oh yes, UAFS will provide and as Beran said the Mallalieu Center of Academic Excellence will serve as a laboratory.  A suggestion for Beran, every government school in the city is a pre-existing “laboratory”.  Beran is a hugeTaker from the Makers.  Observe his record.

It is hoped that the city directors would remove themselves forthwith from very expensive, nebulous, non-governmental affairs and attend to resurrecting our moribund city by using the proper functions of government.

Joe McCutchen

arkansasfreedom.net />
www.fortsmithtruth.com   

city government offenses, City Politics

More Takers taking from the Makers

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To the Fort Smith City Mayor & the City Directors:                August 14, 2011

The city of Fort Smith, Arkansas—a puny 10 yr. 6% growth rate, a C-/D+ on its Economic Report Card, involved in any number of non-governmental pursuits stifling the taxpayers and the city itself, e.g. Food Tax issue, the Marshall’s Museum, West End, Ben Geren Park additions, Convention Center, and in all likelihood any number of downtown involvements.  All of this coupled to the incremental shuttering of what was once the shining flagship of Fort Smith—Whirlpool, Inc.

Enter the pseudo academic expansionist Chancellor Paul Beran of the Univ. of Ark. Fort Smith with another very expensive cockeyed “vision”.  Reference the “Mallalieu Center for Academic Excellence” described as a “Church of Reason serving the intellectual leaders of the next generation”, so says Beran.  Could Chancellor Beran define for us…what is a church of reason & who are the intellectual leaders of the next generation?  Are we to believe that will be the case when his project’s partakers are the “at risk” dropouts, illegals, ne’er do wells, incorrigibles? Beran’s initial “vision” inculcates a plaza and a library to begin with.  Initially the city, that’s us, will spend $300,000 for the church demolition which will result in the creation of a ninth street façade.  Ultimately “The vision” if allowed to come to fruition, would create another notorious private/public partnership—which is more government expansion with the government as the CEO.

The question now, in view of the city’s miserable Economic Report Card, puny growth rate, the tepid state of the economy, why in heaven’s name would the mayor and Directors even consider such an outlandish scheme?

It is not in the purview of city government to restore decaying churches, that is for the church’s congregation and/or whoever has an interest in said structure.  This again is another example of a bureaucrat, in this case Chancellor Paul Beran, to run economically roughshod over taxpaying citizens.  The UAFS is overfunded and Beran has plenty of work to do to create UAFS as a Center of Academic Excellence.  Regarding his numerous state, national & global travelling, it would be appropriate for him to land and closely examine the spending habits of UAFS, e.g. small example, advertising UAFS on electronic billboards within the city & primetime spots on television.

Another case of the Takers planning to take more from the Makers.
                                    August 15, 2011
Denouement:  
The Fort Smith city government can beneficently be described as incompetent and inept. Today’s Times Record reports that Marshal’s Museum Director Jim Dunn is back at the trough for another 100K.   For What?   Another “pie in the sky vision” the museum was billed as a PRIVATE undertaking.  At this point it appears the only cash for this project has come from the taxpayers.  Recall that in early 2010 Richard Griffin, Ken Pyle, Jim Dunn & other mischief makers went to Miami to sack up something called “New Market Tax Credits”…a taxpayer subsidized government program being roundly abused. Is this what Griffin is using to subsidize his new Garrison Ave. liquor store?

What was Dunn’s reason for accompanying Griffin to Miami?  Who paid for his trip? 

The F.S. city government has no business plan and these two items listed in this piece make the leaders of this city sound as if they auditioned for Circus, Circus.

What in the world is going on inside the city government?  Please, get back to the proper role of government and get these Takers off our backs.

Joe McCutchen
www.fortsmithtruth.com  
arkansasfreedom.net  

city government offenses, City Politics, Globalization

Globalism on the local level=big bucks for some

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Please read & think—your individual freedoms & property rights are at stake                July 24, 2011

Government—government—and more government, all made possible by practitioners of opportunism. Why isn’t private enterprise flourishing as opposed to the metastasizing government at all levels which creates nothing but debt and destruction? Look no further than Fort Smith.

New Market Tax Credits—the rich take from the poor.

Is there a relationship between the United Nations’ Agenda 21/Sustainable Development and its bevy of bastard babies and their relationships to Sebastian County and the Fort Smith city government and their relationship to private developers and their relationship with the New Market Tax Credits?
The U.N. Agenda 21 has given rise to Sustainable Development, Smart Growth, Quality of Place, MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization), ICLEI, Metro 1313, Providence Communities, New Market Tax Credits, New Urbanism, and the list goes on & on. MPO’s are federally established.  Fort Smith is already a participant in any number (?) of the bastard babies.  What citizen rights have been usurped?

U.N. Agenda 21 is generally known in counties across America as Sustainable Development. Sustainable policies are now pursued in every county in the United States.  U.N.  Agenda 21 is the globalist program designed to achieve the step-by-step abolition of private property, to educate for a global citizenship, and to control human actions in toto—transportation, diet, concentrated living quarters (stack & pack ‘em), walking trails, containment of worksites, i.e. the whole of our lives. Included in U.N. Agenda 21 is a written objective to reduce population by 85%–sobering! The question remains, what method or methods will be used to remove populations if Americans continue to slumber? 

Again, every county in America has adopted its own Sustainability programs…citizens, are you aware of this?   How many of these programs have Sebastian County and the city of Fort Smith implemented? What is the price for membership, and why have elected & appointed officials not made the citizens aware, e.g. Judge David Hudson, the Justices of Peace, local legislators, Fort Smith City Manager Ray Gosack & the City Board?  What freedoms have we citizens lost by their participation?  Do the aforementioned know the goals of Agenda 21 in its traitorous endeavors?  If so, they are complicit. If not, they are incompetent.

In addition to the MPO’s its companions are non-elected Councils of Government (COG’s).  Research has shown that MPO’s and COG’s are Soviet-style organizations.  These organizations hold ultimate power and are not elected. Notice the vast number of unelected commissions, task forces, study groups, etc. which as previously noted, are nothing more than self-serving power cabals with no oversight, accompanied by their lobbying efforts.  The Advertising & Promotion Commission is an excellent example.
U.N. Agenda 21 is fully embedded in American government, business, and educational systems, e.g. F.S. public schools & Univ. of Ark. @ Ft. Smith are graphic examples.

Sustainability is defined as the three E’s: Equity—establish a Collectivist society that reduces everyone to a common denominator (Obama and the Democrats); Economics—the international redistribution of America’s wealth (Obama & the Democrats) and converting the free enterprise system to what government calls Public-Private Partnerships (better described as economic Fascism, or Corporatism & government is always the CEO):  Environment—nature comes before man. 

We have seen the first two E’s manifest themselves in America, and the third E is now taking place, orchestrated by the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Rangers, etc.  Example, the San Juan and other mountain ranges surrounding Cortez, CO. have been taken over by the federal government. (Look no further than the Ouachita’s in Arkansas)  Many roads in & out of these mountain ranges have been locked and gated.  It is estimated that 50% of America’s land mass, plus buffer zones will be off-limits to ordinary people and will prevent extraction of resources.

The battlefield for Sustainable Development has become local, implemented by City Directors, County Boards, Water Boards, Fire Boards, School Boards, etc. Note again, that most are non-elected boards and the bastard babies of U.N. Agenda 21 are implemented by proliferating unelected boards which serve as the pilots for America’s destruction.

One of the largest of the bastard babies is an outfit called ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives). Many writings have alluded to the international cancer known as ICLEI.  Over 600 cities or county governments pay dues and have treasonous contracts with this NGO (Non-governmental Organization).  It is extremely important to note here that No. Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hayes is the CEO of this unconstitutional organization…the U.S. Division.

On to the local scene, the Fort Smith Times Record has topically reported on one of the bastard babies known as New Market Tax Credits.
The Act was supposedly not designed for high-end developers and opulent buildings and now goes totally against the intent of the New Markets program. The Act was designed to refurbish impoverished areas, but as all government programs, no matter the good intentions, they are ultimately corrupted.

New Market Tax Credits theoretically dole out federal subsidies to neighborhoods that have a 26% poverty rate.  By today’s standards, many if not most neighborhoods would qualify.  One brief example regarding the abuse of New Market tax credits involved the revered Blackstone Hotel in Chicago (where else but Chicago?).   The Blackstone, through nefarious deals orchestrated by Prudential Financial, Inc. ,  J.P. Morgan Chase, U.S. Bancorp’s, received $116 million renovation subsidies and divvied up between the aforementioned.

Enter the Fort Smith Housing Authority board of directors.  Citizens, did you know that the F.S. Housing Authority (HUD) board of commissioners arrive at political positions that the F.S. city government cannot overturn, another unelected economic cabal.   HUD czar is Richard Griffin.  In early 2010 Griffin, Ken Pyle, Steve Clark of credit card fame abuse, & Norm McLoughlin, a legal & financial consultant, and Jim Dunn (Marshall Museum executive director) attended a seminar in Miami to learn the ins & outs of New Market Tax Credits. 

Regarding the F.S. Marshall’s Museum, Richard Griffin, Commission Chairman, is quoted “if not us, who?” And further expanded his quotation “is it getting out of the box of housing? Yes.  At the end of the day, it’s a grant” (taxpayer money) It must be remembered that the proposed museum was to be endowed by private funding. It’s quite apparent that Griffin and his followers are intent on using HUD money (our money) to attack the private sector.  Today HUD owns 11,049 properties in Fort Smith according to their website, which is breathtaking, and at present HUD is in a pre-foreclosure & foreclosure on 77 properties. More failed & expensive government projects, and just how did they obtain 11,049 properties? Every expansion by HUD, New Market Tax Credits, and the rest of the bastard babies are closing the door on private enterprise and giving the United Nations a leg up.  Griffin’s quote “getting out of the box of housing? Yes.” Is indicative that the HUD board, Griffin, Pyle, etc. anticipate using HUD structure to further compete with private enterprise using citizen taxpayer dollars.

Was Griffin’s admission related to using New Market Tax Credits to fund the Marshall’s Museum and if not why did the museum Executive Director Dunn travel to Miami with Griffin, et al and who paid for Dunn’s trip and the rest of the attendees?  What is the ultimate payoff for each of the Miami participants?
So at the real end of the day, does Griffin plan to follow the Blackstone Hotel abuse example?  He and the F.S. Housing Authority can apply for federal New Market Tax Credits, at which time Griffin can sell the tax credits to investors. Will there be a local banking institution involved in this venture, e.g. First National?
Is Griffin using New Market Tax Credits to fund his impending Garrison Ave. projects– a Quickie, liquor store, service station and the remodeling of the New Theater?

All the above information was compiled & written on or before July 21, 2011.  Some of the following data was published in Friday’s edition (7/22/11) of the Times Record.

 More development and expansion by Griffin/HUD/financiers, all at the expense of middleclass taxpayers, e.g. Agenda 21 to the fore.  Executive Director of the Fort Smith Housing Authority Ken Pyle is quoted as saying “we are really feeling good”. Notice more Agenda 21 from the New Market Tax Credits…a $60 million food processing plant (why?), a regional food bank (why?), a social services campus for the Homeless (why?). This is a working example of Collectivism.  It is another example of an extension of Agenda 21 and its bastard babies, expanding government, enriching insiders, attacking free enterprise, and controlling citizens.  Not one question by Times Record reporter Ben Boulden regarding the why & who of this explosive revelation, particularly the $60 million food processing plant. The audacity of Pyle hustling for a “social services” campus.  In reality only 4% of citizens cannot fend for themselves. Their every need is already taken care of. The remaining 96% on the dole are deadbeats and so choose to be. Pyle apparently thinks using the word “campus” cleans up the sordid mess & stench to make it palatable to citizens.  Pyle and other “concerned” citizens can fund it and leave the beleaguered Makers (private sector taxpayers) alone and by the way, where are the churches in this production…not just an occasional grocery hand-out?

New Market Tax Credits=Takers take from the Makers.
Of extreme interest to all freedom loving citizens was an article titled “Housing Authority Collects Redevelopment Funds”.  Note the vulgar amount of money collected by the Fort Smith Housing Authority–$235 million in investment commitments. Remember, this commitment comes directly under the aegis of the New Market Tax Credits.  Further, as shown in the earlier part of this piece big time financial institutions have joined in the taxpayer subsidized economic scam; JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Keegan, US Bancorps… these bailed out by the Obama “stimulus” package, followed by Stephens, Inc., locally First National Bank of Fort Smith (no surprise here), Bank of the Ozarks, Arvest, and possibly others.  It should be noted that the CEO of JP Morgan Chase is a board member of the NY Federal Reserve & JP Morgan Chase received $67 billion of Obama’s stimulus loot and here we find Morgan Chase stealing more taxpayer largesse, compliments of the New Market Tax Credits.

The first part of this piece alluded to the opulent spending on the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago and here again, JP Morgan Chase, US Bancorps divvied up $116 million in renovation subsidies.
New Market Tax Credits operating on the backs of middleclass Americans and further edging toward bankrupting America by subsidizing land, building owners, raw land development, contractors, all with huge tax write-offs, compliments of the U.S. Treasury & the IRS…all by design.

We are witnessing the resurrection of Urban Renewal 2000 style— government theft on a grander scale, coupled with the usual scurrilous opportunists.

Historians declare that America’s Declaration of Independence is man’s greatest achievement.  This achievement is now being buried under the United Nations Agenda 21’s global attack.  
Let this be firmly ensconced in your brain: every time a politician or bureaucrat creates a commission, study group, task force, retreat, etc. be aware you are about to lose more of your hard earned money and freedom.

It’s all about global citizenship, the death of sovereignty…and it is here. Agenda 21 is in our town, Fort Smith, Arkansas.  Are the “leaders” sell-outs or just plain ignorant?

Joe McCutchen

www.fortsmithtruth.com
restoringhonornow.com/2011/06/28/agenda-21-saving-the-planet/
arkansasfreedom.net

city government offenses, City Politics

Spare us your EXPENSIVE “Visions” !

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Another Vision, accompanied by no logic, compliments of Madam Times Record Editor and Madam City Director                    July 17, 2011

Madam Editor, regarding your observations, you state we are in three “armed hostilities” (commonly known as Wars).  Madam Editor not 3 wars but SIX wars soon to be SEVEN, orchestrated by the fools we have sent & continue to send to D.C.  The last undeclared war—Libya, unilaterally implemented by the Marxist-Communist President Barack Hussein Obama in violation of the U.S. Constitution & the War Powers Act.   Remember his words in March?  Obama calls this a “humanitarian” effort while missiles rain down on innocent, helpless Libyan citizens and he stated this will last days, not weeks.   Perhaps Obama has forgotten how to count?  16 weeks later……

Madam Editor, you speak of venom being directed against Board members and their families…be specific.  Citizens questioning officials is not venom, but it is frustration from no answers.  After all, it is their money being squandered!

Madam Editor, you failed to note that a ½ % sales tax would have generated more than enough revenue to satisfy the needs of the Convention Center, so what’s with the other ½ ?  Voila, another “vision”…visions of sugar-plum fairies danced in their heads… C.C. manager Claude Legris had a “vision” called the “Opportunity Fund” to run festivals, etc., & continue to subsidize the embryonic Marshall’s Museum, which was billed as a private endeavor—enter New Market Tax Credits.  What is needed in this city is transparency and honesty.  Note the ridiculous cost of political “visions”!

Please tell us Madam Director Weber if the Advertising & Promotion Commission is not a government entity run by an unelected commission with no accountability?  So why did you suggest the A & P should be the ones in charge of the Convention Center? Recent legislation rewarded Legris & the Commission special tax advantages in running the C. C.
Madam Editor, you posed the question “will we build a community of mutual respect, or will we tear down what we’ve accomplished in lonely fear”….and what the hell is lonely fear?  Attempts to demonize questioning citizens are what are fearful & alarming.  Are you advocating there be no questions asked and at this juncture there have been no answers to any of the legitimate questions posed to the Board of Directors and absolutely no transparency?

 The Board of Directors has refused to address any number of questions dating back to former city manager Harding who was alleged to have been involved in any number of irregularities, i.e. drug treatment, alcoholism, car wrecks, etc. (by the way, who paid? ), leading up to the present, e.g. the mayor receiving $20,000 per month to be spent at his discretion, which is absolutely absurd & thievery; the inordinate growth of the police department & their AR 15 weaponry, SUV’s (why is this? ); the command post at the old N.G. armory; show of police force in Board meetings, uncashed water utility checks, etc. etc. Back in the day there was the inside trading Lee Creek fiasco.

Since the forced retirement of Jack Moseley there has not been one iota of investigative reporting done by this newspaper. An occasional softball editorial.  Did Warren put the handcuffs on you folks? 

Madam Editor, you list any number of critical problems that our country, state & cities are burdened with & yet have the grand audacity to demand more tax obligations while laying yet another financial load on business owners. You concluded “the people in NW Arkansas are willing to pay their bills”.  Madam Editor seems to be saying…shut up, pay the bills, & government will tell what is good for you”. Spending others’ money is easiest job in the world.

 Please, no more Visions!  Citizens are looking for logic and accountability.

Joe & Barbara McCutchen   
  www.fortsmithtruth.com             arkansasfreedom.net              Cc: Citizens