Category Archives: city government offenses

city government offenses, City Politics

Vortex of Mass Taxation

FORT SMITH CITIZENS ARE CAUGHT IN A VORTEX OF MASS TAXATION

Naming two:                                                                                                                   May 23, 2011

  1. The Fort Smith Convention Center

The Terrible Four (City Directors Good, Merry, Tyler, & Weber) either for economics, political gain, or ideological reasons, recently voted to hang $1,800,000 in new taxes (1% prepared food tax) coupled to a $700,000 old tax (hotel tax) around the necks of Fort Smith and other citizens, placing their personal wishes above the rights of the voting public. 

 

In a special meeting Friday May 20, 2011, the Advertising & Promotion Commission adopted new bylaws and approved the rules & regulations that will govern the A & P’s collection and enforcement of “hospitality taxes”…note the word ENFORCEMENT; another case of government intrusion and heavy-handedness invading private enterprises–UNCONSTITUTIONAL.  Mayor Sandy Sanders is on the A & P Board, can we expect complete transparency without having to file FOIA’s?

 

Convention Center Bureau Chief Claude Legris, regarding his spending latitudes and in reality trying to justify the over $3 million per year dedicated to the Fort Smith Convention Center, cited the Little Rock A&P operates on a $9 million per year budget.  Claude, Fort Smith is not a Little Rock and no city official has given justification for the $3 million yearly expenditure

 

What the City Directors and the A & P must provide to citizens:

  1. The A & P Commission should publish a monthly statement of the amount of monies spent and for what purposes, and how much is on deposit.
  2. The bylaws, rules & regulations governing the operation of the C.C. must be published on the Center’s website.
  3. Are Board meetings open or closed?
  4. Is there any intention of creating 501 c3’s, c4’s, or any other type of non-profit? Non-profits equal contrived needs, fundraising, and high salaries & benefits.
  5. A complete list must be published regarding the salaries of all A & P employees, including perks and job descriptions.

Director Hutchings, you are my Director and does your appointment to the A & P Board guarantee that the above information will be posted forthwith on  a monthly basis…if not, why not?

  1. The improbable Marshall’s Museum Project was and is billed as a PRIVATE endeavor, yet city & county politicians and bureaucrats continue to subsidize its shaky christening.  Already in 2007 the state plowed in $2.2 million taxpayer money, Sebastian County dropped $215,000 in 2007, with another $215,000 to be given this fiscal year. There is no specific information regarding Fort Smith’s donation but it is known that the amount exceeds $300,000.  NOTE: THE TAXPAYERS HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING IN RETURN, NOR WILL THEY.

From circuitous financial data it appears that most of the financing comes from long-term pledges and volunteer efforts…accounting, etc. which is counted as funding, but not in real dollars.

It appears that the Museum Committee projects $2.63 million in assets—pledged, bequeaths, etc. along with a $1.87 million Riverfront property donated by the Bennie Westphal family.  It seems that an ultra-premium has been placed on the worth of the Westphal property.  The First National Bank in 2009 pledged $500,000 in 5 annual installments of $100,000.  Whether the First National Bank has started the pledged installments is not known.

The state of Arkansas’ donation to the embryonic Marshall’s Museum cannot be questioned on the basis of legality or morality since they have slush funds that can be disbursed at their choosing.   A much different question with reference to the Sebastian County government and the Fort Smith city government.  What is their authority and before disbursement why weren’t these grants brought to the attention of Fort Smith & Sebastian County voters?  Again, the nascent Marshall’s Museum has been and is billed as a PRIVATE endeavor, therefore; is it not at the very least a question of truth, ethics & financing and should be addressed by the Fort Smith Board of Directors?

Think citizens:  Can you envision what a 50,000 sq. ft. building, replete with unending amenities, and $50 million looks like?  Think further, the costs of maintaining such a behemoth, i.e. employee salaries, insurance of all varieties, maintenance, oversight, security, etc.  Citizens, have you any conception as to what the real numbers of customers and money would have to be to support the proposed Museum?  Of course not.

Monday May 23rd the Fort Smith Board of Directors will hold another one of their “retreats” at Lake Fort Smith. The agenda: “reviewing city priorities, discussing strategic & tactical priorities (a military engagement?), and major vision components”.  This is D.C. doublespeak.  Aren’t you impressed with “major vision components”?

THE MARSHALL MUSEUM FIX IS IN….LET THE METAMORPHOSES BEGIN…FROM A PRIVATE ENDEAVOR TO TAXPAYER FUNDING (THAT’S US).

Let us keep our eyes closely on this cast of characters.  Look for more proposed taxation.  The Vortex is in place.

See:  arkansasfreedom.net    &  www.fortsmithtruth.com   for details

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

P.S. the Fort Smith Board of Directors surely should “review their priorities” post haste….get out of the entertainment business—remember the F.S. Economic Report Card, C-/D+ !

 

city government offenses, City Politics

Funding follows failure…in every government endeavor

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FUNDING FOLLOWS FAILURE                                                                     May 20, 2011 

Directors Merry, Good, Tyler, & Weber should be figuratively tarred & feathered… here is why.

The near defunct Fort Smith Convention Center needs to generate $1.1 million yearly to avoid a short-fall, so they say.

The Fort Smith hotel tax generates $700,000 per year, the Convention Center generates $650,000 per year, and it is said the recently ordained 1% “prepared food tax”, compliments of Directors Merry, Good, Tyler, & Weber will generate $1,800,000 per year…for a grand total of $3,150,000 yearly dedicated to the A & P.  I am aghast at their audacity!

The total of the aforementioned 3 sources of revenue is $2,050,000 in excess of what is needed to sustain the operations of the Convention Center.  Can you say huge surplus and where does it go and for what?  Chief Claude Legris envisions an “Opportunity Fund” (?), money for Bass Reeves monument (allegedly a private endeavor), festivals, the Arts Community, theater events, etc.  Legris is salivating and has the money spent before collected.

Who in their right mind could be expected to put that much money in the hands of an overpaid Claude Legris, the  A & P Commission, the City Mgr. Ray Gosack, and theTerrible Four listed above City Directors?

More incendiary arrogance exhibited by newly ordained Bureau Chief Legris:  On a question to Legris regarding oversight of these MILLIONs, Legris’ response “the A & P (Advertising & Promotion) is itself the mechanism of oversight”, i.e. they police themselves and for all practical purposes means there is no oversight.

The question arises again, what happens to the $2,050,000 surplus languishing in the hands of Claude Legris and his Commission?

Note that the $700,000 lodging tax and the $650,000 generated by the C.C. is enough to sustain the operation of the C.C. with funds left over for maintenance.  Therefore; why did Merry, Good, Tyler & Weber vote for a 1% prepared food tax while denying the citizens an opportunity to vote?   Is all of the above not malfeasance/misfeasance?

In the shadow of the invasive, non-essential tax comes other proposed taxing salvos from the terrible four.

  1. Director Tyler—“surplus prepared food tax money can be set aside, such as the U.S. Marshall’s Museum”,– (The pie-in-the-sky 1,000 lb. gorilla.) Does Tyler not understand that the Museum is a dedicated privately funded endeavor, even though the City Mgr & the terrible four (and perhaps others) have already dumped thousands of taxpayer dollars into the museum folly.  Is this not a violation of trust & ethics?
  2. The food tax is to begin in June and right on the heels of the food tax power grab, Tyler is already fanning the flames to establish “business/license fees”.
  3. Director Merry—stated “he recognizes that the Convention Center will have huge surpluses” and he stressed “putting some meat on the bone”.  (Translation=throwing more thousands at the C.C.)
  4. The aforementioned Terrible Four and Claude Legris bear watching very closely and can only be described as tax & spend Socialists. There is of course the heavy involvement of City Manager Gosack.
  5. Coercion and manipulation has produced a protection racket that envelopes the C.C., all the while the city of Fort Smith gets a C-/D+ on its Economic Report Card…and not one public comment from the Fort Smith City Directors regarding this dismal report.
  6. Are we dealing with ignorance or complicity, or a combination thereof?

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

 

P.S. Why haven’t the Water Dept. checks been cashed??

 

arkansasfreedom.net

 

www.fortsmithtruth.com  

city government offenses, City Politics

City taxation without representation

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The Fort Smith city governments’ report card on entertainment & economics                             April 30, 2011

Four of the Ft Smith city directors, Good, Merry, Tyler, & Weber evidently have no problem in bullying the city’s taxpaying citizens.  It is highly likely that none of the four are constitutionally acquainted, but if they are they have no compunction in relegating it to the trash bin.

Subject: The Food Tax.  They are using the force of government to send hired government goons into privately owned businesses with the demand they turn their profit & loss statements over to the city for analysis regarding their food sales to ascertain if the city is getting their “share”. The fact that the federal government does it does not make it right. Both are corrupt and by what constitutional authority?

Any business owner who has created a business out of dreams and hard work and claim as their very own, then be forced to allow the filthy tentacles of any government to forcefully invade his or her premises is unconstitutional & an absolute invasion of privacy…Amendment IV.

This is precisely what the aforementioned named four are directing the city of Fort Smith to do:  use force to invade private businesses in the name of the “Prepared Food Tax” exacerbating the issue by not allowing a vote by the citizens on this very important economic and constitutional issue.

This is exactly one of the reasons our Revolution was fought… “No taxation without representation”.

In all likelihood the aforementioned four have never created a business, hired employees and sustained the jobs that have been created through sweat and blood.  Therefore; adding to their unpleasant conduct, these four Directors have no understanding of the further demands placed on businesses by the unconstitutional tax to be used to breathe some modicum of life into the moribund Convention Center.  This coupled with the additional millions the food tax will produce with no accountability.

There are of course the matters of the Pipe Dreams known as the Marshall’s Museum, allegedly a private endeavor, the West End Park, professional baseball, expansion of Ben Geren Park, ad infinitum. You give the economic grade on entertainment.

In view of the above extravaganzas, real & proposed, comes the city’s economic/industrial report card.  A letter-graded report ranking economic vibrancy in Fort Smith during the 4th quarter gave the manufacturing town a split grade of C-/D+ , The Compass Report by Jeff Collins published in the Ark. Democrat-Gazette under the heading “The changing nature of employment”.

Any business oriented citizen would have no problem determining where the city’s direction should be pointed.  It seems that the City Directors are oblivious to the realities of our city & government.  Raising taxes in a time of recession/depression, with citizens struggling mightily economically, inflation exploding, thousands of illegals nesting in our city absorbing “benefits” in astronomical proportions, while government agencies sit on their duffs refusing to enforce laws, clamoring for pay raises, and continuing to pursue “entertainment”…not a proper function of government….can only lead to further destruction.

As long as the aforementioned conditions exist there cannot possibly be a spirit of cooperation among the citizens.  The city government is bloated in financing, employees, and poor management. Many thanks to Directors Catsavis, Hutchings, and Settle for their votes against the tax.

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

arkansasfreedom.net

www.fortsmithtruth.com

 

city government offenses, City Politics, State government offenses

Theft & Vote Buying = Funding follows failure

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Grand Theft, Vote Buying, Insolence, & a little bit of Journalistic Cover-up                           April 26, 2011

It is beginning to be painfully obvious that the Times Record skews stories and/or omits important pieces of information, P.C. reigns supreme. 

Today’s edition, in a story by reporter Ben Boulden titled “School Board okays pay hikes”, he writes “at the end of school, a one-time, “non-recurring payment” (translation: bonus) will go to employees:  $800 for eligible certified staff (?),  $500 for eligible classified staff (?), and $250 (bus drivers) for part-time transportation staff.

As a lead in to the above paragraph it was stated that public (government) school employees will receive $1,416 or 2.74% pay raise. Why and who pays? Government expands while producers are being eliminated.

The statement regarding “non-recurring” payment is really a bonus which was awarded to Arkansas teachers and ancillary help as part of a $90 million so-called stimulus awarded by Barack Obama. This nothing short of money laundering and school personnel vote buying.

What have the teachers and other personnel accomplished in the Fort Smith school district that would warrant a bonus of any amount?  The following statistics indicate the Arkansas teaching community should receive pay cuts forthwith.  To enumerate just a few:

1.      5,615 Arkansans (2010) who took a college entrance exam and failed to score high enough to avoid remediation in math or reading—both core subjects.

2.      A quarter of the students who entered college and needed remedial courses had earned a 3.00 GPA or higher in High School—grade inflation.

3.      Arkansas spent $65.7 million on remedial education during the 2007-2008 academic terms and Arkansas teachers saw nothing wrong with their academic fraud.

4.      Nearly 70% of Arkansas students need remediation in more than one subject.

5.      Observe the $65.7 million awarded to teach more than ½ of Arkansas students what they should have learned in K-12.

This screed is too depressing to continue, and only to say that no educator at any level mentions the 25-35 million illegal Mexicans & OTM’s nesting in our republic while their offspring is devastating education K-12, while stealing the minds of American kids.  Recall Superintendent Gooden’s statement referring to illegal alien attendees, “we’ll take all we can get”.  Why?  More funding.

The Arkansas $90 million Obama award was announced Dec. 22, 2010 and one Arkansas legislator had the temerity to question the validity of the $90 million printed out of thin air and a number of teachers reacted by accusing said legislator of “stealing their Christmas”.  Shades of Madison.

In the Times Record piece, school board member Deanie Mehl said “we were very fortunate to be able to raise any salaries at all”.  Insolence?  You bet.  The idea that the Fort Smith School Board would reward non-deserving bonuses and pay raises at a time when producers (those of us who are subsidizing the failed education cabal) are unemployed and struggling mightily to eke out a limited subsistence.  Obviously Ms. Mehl and the Board are dulled as to the reality of what is happening in our former preeminent Republic.

Suggestion:  Ms. Mehl and the Board, why didn’t you demand the monies going for salary increases be diverted back to those who generated it?

Major surgery, Wisconsin & Ohio style, is badly needed in Arkansas. The AEA is not about education.

FUNDING TRULY FOLLOWS FAILURE!  The fix is obviously in.

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

arkansasfreedom.net

www.fortsmithtruth.com

 

 

 

city government offenses, City Politics, Political Correctness - The Destroyer

“Togetherness” in government = suppression of dissent

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Scamarama & Togetherness                                                                                  April 21, 2011

April 16, 2011 the Directors of the Fort Smith city government, save one, gathered at Lake Fort Smith for what has become wistfully known as a “Retreat”.  The “retreat” was produced by Ron Holifield, a former 15 year city manager from the Dallas area who runs a company by the name of Strategic Government Resources (taxes).  He and his wife are the principals.

Holifield, the producer of the outing designated each of the Directors as “Creators, Advancers, Refiners, Executors, & Flexors”.  For Holifield’s definition for these categories see arkansasfreedom.net

The question remains, who set this meeting up and did that individual or individuals believe the Board of Directors incapable of making the decisions for which they were elected, without government influences and indoctrination? 

Nowhere has it been pointed out what the cost of this production was, and what if anything was gained except a day at the lake and a 7 hour lecture…and who paid for lunch?

It turns out that Holifield charged $5,000 for this one-day extravaganza and used taxpayers’ building for free.  That translates to over $700 per hour.  Some of the Directors have proclaimed it was a grand experience, my question to those Directors, was their experience so grand that they would take $5,000 of their own money to pay for it?  (Remember, the easiest job in the whole world is spending other people’s money).

On the heels of this exercise in waste comes the hiring a Deputy City Administrator.  Just why do we need a Deputy City Administrator?  The city has department heads for each division and a plethora of go-fers.   What we don’t have is a detailed departmental oversight of this government by the City Directors while mismanagement is rampant, both in financing and procurement and employee’s fear of recrimination for pointing out deficiencies permeating the totality. Salaries are bloated in comparison to the private sector which generates the funds to sustain this behemoth.

Not to be outdone, County Judge Hudson and the Sebastian County Quorum Court are moving toward implementing a $1 million computer system.  No concern by the Judge re our present recession/depression.  Damn the torpedoes, let the taxes continue?    This following the murky establishment of an high-tech communication center at the old Fort Smith National Guard Armory which will allegedly be run by FEMA, the county judge, F.S. police chief and the county Sheriff…more fusion and “togetherness” with few details disseminated to the citizens, and in close proximity, a “Safe House” to be built—for what and whom?   The facility at the old N.G. building is the place where the very expensive specially made 47 work stations are to be anchored.   47 work stations for what?  An occasional tornedo?  Note the ever-expanding and militarization of law enforcement, while illegals run rampant under their collective noses out of the “shadows”.

In the J.P. discussion regarding the proposed $1 million computer system, J.P. Lisa Sellers proclaimed she was “disappointed in the spirit of animosity which was counterproductive” in their meeting, which brings to the fore one of the main purposes of these “togetherness” meetings, i.e. that is to instill the suppression of independent thought/dissenters, and indoctrination in favor of an egalitarian point of view, e.g. everyone reduced to a common politically correct denominator.

All governments are metastasizing at an alarming rate, are unmanageable and many are corrupt.  There are a number of reasons for this phenomenon, e.g. trust in elected officials, a huge mistake, citizen laziness electing the same individuals for decades allowing for the suppression of new ideas, insider trading, etc.   This has allowed the creation of ever-growing fiefdoms in each department and has given rise to vulgar over-staffing, wasteful practices, and far too much funding…which is the case of the F.S. city government.  

Arrogance, self-promotion and refusal to act in the citizen’s behalf, such as is the case of the Fort Smith city government’s refusal to allow a citywide vote on the proposed food tax, and not giving a thought to their vulgar invasions into private enterprises by government  is the disease of forced redistribution.

Past time to drain the cesspools, top down. 

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

city government offenses, City Politics, Political Correctness - The Destroyer

City government Rabbit Hole

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The Rabbit Hole of Indoctrination and Politically Correct city government             April 17, 2011

The Fort Smith Board of Directors brought a new level of politically correct absurdity and nonsense to their Saturday “Retreat” in Wonderland. There is no question that our Directors are physically adults.  The real questions are, are they mentally immature, ignorant, stupid, complicit, or just pleasing their suitors and/or enablers?

The just completed politically correct exercise really brings into question the maturity and rationality of the participants.  Designating Directors as ‘Creators, Advancers, Refiners, Executors, & Flexers” is right out of the government P. C. playbook, which ultimately produces automatons/egalitarians.

The aforementioned “categories” reminds of the various donation levels for a college sports team.

Ron Holifield who “facilitated” (staged) this charade, e.g. “Advancers are those who communicate new ideas, carry them forward, and manage the human part of any solution”.   Can anyone tell what “managing the human part of any solution” means?  He nominated Directors Hutchings, Pam Weber & Phil Merry as Advancers.  Mr. Holifield, please tell us the new ideas that any of the three of these have communicated.

Now comes “Flexers who have an equal preference for all roles and can often adapt their styles to fit the team’s needs”.  Director Good was a recipient of this auspicious title which simply says he feels strongly both ways or will hunt with any ole dog.  Frankly, Director Good should be mad as the devil for having this title hung round his neck.

Times Record reporter Ben Boulden wrote this doublespeak and failed to define why Ron Holifield classifies himself as a consultant with Strategic Government Resources (taxes) and what exactly is Strategic Government Resources and what was the cost to Fort Smith taxpayers for bringing Mr. Holifield to town to put on his production.  This whole affair smacks of fiscal irresponsibility.

 It should be noted that Directors should tell taxpaying Fort Smith citizens why we need an assistant City Manager, what the cost was to hire a search firm to locate candidates for the position of assistant city manager, and why in all likelihood would they hire any of the three that have reached the finals.  Administrator Gossack is obviously dictating the tenor of business in the Fort Smith city government—a huge mistake.

Furthermore; if each of them were genuinely interested in the future of Fort Smith, they would spend their time dealing with the soon to be defunct Convention Center and its many substantive potential uses, and at the same time would morally and constitutionally allow citizens to vote on the contentious issue of increased food taxes, and invasions of profit & loss statements of privately owned businesses, which can only be described as vulgar and unlawful. The fact that some of these Directors are willing to launch a new tax in these times of economic distress is outrageous. This ain’t Wonderland.

Congratulations to Director George Catsavis for not participating in the Saturday Mad Hatter event.

Joe McCutchen                                                              arkansasfreedom.net 

 

city government offenses, City Politics

Why do plans to renovate Armory include 47 “work stations”?

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47?                  47?                  47?                  47?                  47?                   47?

                                                                                    February 18, 2011

 

County Judge Hudson and Mayor Sandy Sanders—silence regarding the renovation & use of the old National Guard Armory and the $1.7 million needed.

 

The number 47—what is its significance?

 

47 “work stations”, technologically wired, special furniture anchored in concrete.  This description sounds almost like 47 mini-command center modules.  Who mans and for what purpose and what is the on-going cost?

 

There are 48 contiguous states in the United States.  Could it be that the terminals from each of the 47 desks will be connected with 47 states and of course the 48th being Arkansas.

 

Conspiracy?  Who knows?

 

A simple, descriptive press release would answer all the hypothetical questions that have been posed for the citizens of Fort Smith and Sebastian County.

 

I am sure that there are insiders who know all the details, conversely I’m equally sure there are those elected officials who don’t have the background to understand the potential magnitude of what the possibility of what the 47 desks represent.

 

J.P. Leo Faulkner gives meaning to the aforementioned paragraph and was quoted “talking this thing to death”, he noted the “center could be completed—and may be needed—by Spring’s hazardous weather season”.  (This isn’t Haiti)

 

47 desks for Sebastian County’s hazardous weather?  Give me a break!

 

Kindest regards,

 

Joe McCutchen

 

arkansasfreedom.net  

city government offenses, Federal Government, State government offenses

Highly questionable budget increase for Lockdown?

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Judge David Hudson/47 Desks & $1.7 million budget increase.                February 17, 2011

 

No lecture to the judge and the J.P.’s that budgets are to be cut, not expanded.

 

Reading deeply into Rusty Garrett’s article Wednesday regarding Sebastian County and its upcoming expenditures is indeed alarming.

1.     A $75,000 expenditure to buy special furniture that requires “anchoring”.  Why? The furniture is for an alleged emergency Op center occupying the old National Guard Armory.  Who knows how many governments and ever-expanding law enforcement agencies are involved in this very murky arrangement?

2.     Who is to sit in these very unique and expensive desks and for what purpose?

3.     There will be 47 “work stations” that will reside in the anchored down desks.

 

Fort Smith and Sebastian County have occasional tornedos, minor flooding, and a few fires that could be described as emergencies.  Citizens, ask yourself how could our small area justify the magnitude of 47 work stations manned by government types at an emergency Op center?  It just doesn’t add up.

 

Sheriff Hollenbeck is involved in this operation and if you haven’t noticed, the Sheriff’s department is militarized to the point that it could invade a small country, and all law enforcement agencies are equipped and trained military style.

 

Hudson informed the J.P.’s they must sign a document immediately or the county would lose “consideration”—Obama-style.

 

This operation is to be used as a training center—for what purpose?  How many new employees? Full or part time?

 

And yes, the Fed, the State, and FEMA are rooted in this operation too.

 

It will be in the best interest of city and county citizens to demand immediately that Judge Hudson, Sheriff Hollenbeck, Fort Smith Police Chief, Fort Smith City Directors and Sebastian County J.P.’s call for an advertised public meeting to describe the real function and purpose of the 47 stations and the enlargement of the building.

 

This gives all the appearance of a regional entity for the express purpose of surveillance or locking down a segment of society. Perhaps one of the infamous Fusion Centers? Why haven’t our elected officials been transparent on this issue, particularly in a major recession?

 

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

 

arkansasfreedom.net 

city government offenses, City Politics, Cultural Marxism destroying United States

Too Big to Fail mentality

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TOO BIG TO FAIL                                                                          January 16, 2011

 

Today’s Times Record editorial “Good Leads Way with Hard Choices Needed” which means in essence the failed Fort Smith Civic Center is “too big to fail”.

 

No mention that city leaders were warned years ago that this is not a destination city and not to spend money we don’t have. Now the paper says it will cost $400,000 to maintain even if it sits empty.

 

The paper says a third-party operator is not viable…what happened to the proposal to do just that from the local Phoenix Expo Center?  No mention.

 

Then there’s the proposal to redirect (steal) some street tax money which was solemnly promised for that purpose alone. Never mind that the streets are an absolute embarrassment (e.g. have you driven into that downtown crevice at 5th & Garrison lately) and the sewers are in serious, serial violation of federal regulations.

 

Never mind that the city’s elected leaders have known for 10 years that the state turn back taxes to subsidize the white elephant would end in 2010.  Never mind that only a few actually benefit from the Center’s activities. Businesses which depend on taxpayer subsidized endeavors such as the Center are not legitimately viable anyway. Never mind that the Center has always lost at least $600,000 per year.  Never mind that jobless numbers are growing with businesses shutting down or moving.  Never mind the crumbling infrastructure

 

While the editorial admits that taxpayers are suffering and not in the mood to suffer more, it concludes with “therefore the taxpayers will be smart enough to understand that an extra dime on a $10 lunch is a small price to pay for all the things the Convention Center brings”.  Remember when the city leaders used to say “it’s only a penny”?  Now it’s “only a dime”.

 

Citizens, this is precisely the kind of thinking which got this country into the rotten, dangerous crisis we are facing today. A viable business will survive without the forced redistribution of taxpayer subsidies which is the foundation of all Collectivism/Socialism/Fascism.  An endeavor which is not viable should be allowed to fail which is a foundation of free enterprise Capitalism.

 

It is impossible to spend your way out of debt…that can only lead to more debt in the real world.  City Directors Good and Merry have already put their support behind spending our way into more debt, who else will sign on to this insanity?

 

Never forget, the easiest job in the whole world is spending someone else’s money, i.e. it’s easy to “make hard choices” with other people’s earnings.

 

~Barbara McCutchen

Fort Smith, AR

arkansasfreedom.net  

 

city government offenses, City Politics

Taxation without representation…again

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January 12, 2011

Director Andre Goode’s statement 1/12/11, “If I was more concerned with my re-election than doing what’s right for the city of Fort Smith, then I would not vote to move forward with enacting a 1% hospitality tax”.  What Goode is saying is that the people in his ward would vote against the resurrection of the failed Fort Smith Convention Center with another tax.  He then says “What’s right for Fort Smith, then I would not vote to move forward with enacting a 1% hospitality tax”.  (?) These statements are in conflict with each other.

If the city board were of a moral and constitutional mindset they would allow citizens to vote on this issue. Originally the Mayor and Board of Directors made an unequivocal statement—the 1% street & sewer tax will NOT be violated.

An example of the city board’s floating ethics and morality, they are quite willing to tap into a 10% cut of the funds

 

Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director of the Advertising & Promotion Commission, Claude Legris’ eyes are bigger than the taxpayers’ stomach.  Legris claims that after running the 1% food tax it will generate $1.8 million.  The Convention Center allegedly generates about $700,000 per yr while expenses run about $1l8 million per yr.  Legris and other insiders, frothing at the mouth, quickly put the pencil to all the proposed unearned largesse and comes up with, you know, politicians “visions” for Fort Smith, e.g. there would be a $350,000 surplus so let’s git ‘er spent!    Now get this, Legris would spend it to support festivals, special events, tourism projects. (Nebulous talk accompanied by some form of forced redistribution and expansionism.

We have numerous privately owned, for profit venues which address all of Fort Smith’s convention center needs.

Next in line comes Ivy Owens of the Fort Smith Development Authority with his package of visions at Chaffee Crossing.  A High School, public library, mixed-use subdivision called Providence Community.  (Government Controlled Community is more accurate) Citizens, this is all in the name of government inspired Agenda 21, Quality of Place, Complete Streets, ICLEI, Sustainable, ad infinitum.

Also remember, these “visionaries” are building a Marshall’s Museum, they say with private donations, a professional baseball park, more parks, aquatic center, walking & biking trails and so on.  This bunch has got to be bridled and bridled soon.

Very soon there will be a report on how the Fort Smith Futurity is progressing.

FIX THE STREETS & PUT IT TO A VOTE!!

Joe McCutchen

P.S. Remember, the easiest job in the whole world is spending other people’s money!

arkansasfreedom.net