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!

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