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   
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