Senators Mark Pryor & John Boozman
Washington D.C. January 3, 2012
THE RUNUP TO THE COST OF THE PROPOSED U.S. MARSHAL’S COIN AND MUSEUM
Gentlemen:
How much do you really know about the proposal emanating from Fort Smith, Arkansas regarding the creation of a U.S. Marshal’s museum to be located on the east bank of the Arkansas river other than it is projected to cost $50 million and consisting of 50,000 sq. ft. Apparently not much. Quite pointedly, the project is overkill, in bad taste, and the physical plant does not reflect the historical period, e.g. reflecting pools and design. Most people will agree that a museum with reasonable proportions would be welcomed.
The group who is backing the Colossus is murky and little is known about means and methods of construction. The Marshal’s Museum was initially, with fanfare, BILLED AS A PRIVATE UNDERTAKING, I.E. PRIVATE FUNDING. Nothing could be further from than the truth. It has been wholly subsidized by irresponsible government agencies—county, city, state, & national. Of course there has been no mention of what will sustain the Colossus if allowed to achieve fruition. Conceiving a pre-ordained number of citizen visits has been claimed, i.e. 10,000 visits the first month. No stated admission charge. Bureaucrats, e.g. the Fort Smith Convention Center’s CEO Claude Legris proclaims loudly that government entertainment centers, in this case the F.S. Convention Center, are not designed to make money. Why not? Chief Legris is of course subsidized by producers and has a twisted sense of what is expected.
Fort Smith city government and some of those involved have been extremely sketchy in what is being hatched behind closed doors. Presently, as stated previously, the proposed museum is being wholly subsidized by citizen taxpayers without approval or authority. FOIA’s directed to the Arkansas State Treasurer, Arkansas State Parks & Tourism, the Sebastian County Judge and the Fort Smith City Manager reveals that all funding, save $1,000 from Wal-Mart, has come from taxpayer sources, e.g. $2,400,000 from Ark. Parks & Tourism, $200,000 of which was earmarked for “constructionâ€. The city of Fort Smith received a $250,000 federal grant for the MM, the city has paid for 2 feasibility studies in 2006 & 2009…no dollar amount revealed in FOI…likewise, substantial ongoing city staff support and in kind office equipment. The city has proposed to provide $250,000 per year to the MM while publicly stating they can only provide one camera for televised weekly city board meetings. The city additionally has dumped in $150,000 to the MM with no stated purpose and has subsidized an unknown amount to Jim Dunn, Executive Director of the MM. The MM consortium has hired 2 architectural firms, one Cambridge Assoc. and another Polk Stanley, with no dollar costs listed. Sebastian County government has donated $279,463 to the MM. $2,827 came from State Forfeiture. So far as can be determined at this point, city government and insiders have spent or have collected $3,332,290.00 and of course there are no dollar figures for the 2 feasibility studies, the 2 hired architectural firms and the ongoing use of city personnel & equipment.
Senators Pryor & Boozman, could not the above funding, mostly printed out of thin air, been used to allay some of Arkansas citizens economic and mental pain?
As of this date (Jan. 3, 2012) the Arkansas State Treasurer has not responded to the FOIA which they received 12/20/11. Legally they have 3 days to respond. Note they are in violation of Arkansas state law. The treasurer’s office was called this date and with a plethora of state employees, none were aware at least at this point, of the FOIA. A stimulant will be applied to State Treasurer Martha Shoffner.
The deception put forth by the progenitors of the U.S. Marshal’s Museum is not to be taken lightly. State Senator Jake Files ran a bill through in the last legislative session that calls for the state to subsidize the Marshal’s venture to the tune of $25 million. (A totally irresponsible economic action on the part of Files and the state legislature). Prior to Files Act, Reps. Medley scored & Pennartz struck out. Additionally, various sources have lobbied to have the U.S. federal government, in which the two of you are integral players to provide for the minting of gold coins celebrating the proposed Marshal’s Museum in Fort Smith. AT WHAT TAXPAYER COST? You gentlemen seem to be forgetting that you have run up a $16.2 Trillion debt and the both of you have been around long enough to be culpable for our outrageous economic crises.
The U.S. federal government is drowning in debt as each of you know and in all likelihood, bankrupt with a $16.2 Trillion debt and Trillions upon Trillions of unfunded mandates, while demanding another Trillion for short term expenses; therefore gentlemen what is your economic foundation for promising Fort Smith locals that you will lobby the senate to mint these coins and who pays the bills? By the way, it is my understanding that earmarks were terminated.
Now for some local flavor: 74% of the Fort Smith public school system is (in some cases 95%) on Free or Reduced cost for meals, this is 3 meals a day, 365 days a year. As you may be aware, Fort Smith has lost a lot of its medium/heavy industry through closure or movement. If Fort Smith’s past history is any indicator, in all likelihood the 188th Fighter Group will be disbanded or moved. Statewide the annual Medicaid budget is $5 billion and growing at a rate of 5% per year. Much of the growth is due to illegal Mexican and OTM invasion that come here unabated while neither of you gentlemen deems it important to demand the enforcement of 8 USC and its subsections. Fort Smith is a sanctuary city and in this regard the two of you have failed & refused to uphold your sworn constitutional duties. Now is no time to be experimenting with a nebulous concoction, i.e. the Marshal’s Museum, particularly in its grandiosity.
You must understand that Fort Smith citizens were not given the opportunity or consulted regarding the proposed embryonic plans for the U.S. Marshal’s Museum. Then there is the big lie about funding. Insider trading you say? If this Colossus is allowed to be completed the rank & file taxpaying citizen will inherit the double-tax burden.
If real money were available there are certainly any numbers of citizen needs that take priority over the proposed nebulous Marshal’s Museum. Too much money has already been frittered away for the benefit of a few insiders. I sincerely hope you will reappraise your positions and influence your colleagues to turn down this exercise in huge financial grandiosity and concern yourselves with the fiscal destruction wreaking havoc on the taxpaying citizenry of the United States.
Perhaps your intentions regarding the striking of the commemorative coin are honorable, but gentlemen this is no time for luxury exploration which has no chance of viability. Please look at what’s being proposed and understand that economic logic cannot support this scheme. There are numerous entanglements involved in this project that benefit a selected few and not your constituents.
This is a textbook example of why the U.S.A is in the throes of economic Armageddon.
Joe McCutchen
Fort Smith
P.S. If you still feel a necessity to vote for such coinage I want to know the total cost of the minting/distribution process.
The proposed Marshal’s Museum=the Fort Smith City Convention Center on Steroids.