(Originally posted on 10/1/2009 2:15:00 PM)

October 1, 2009

Fort Smith city government’s Battle Cry—Keep Them New TaxesCommin’!

The City Administration, et al, has an absolutecomprehension that spending other people’s money is the easiest job in thewhole world–$16,000 for Pistachio Trees at the Landfill?

1.      West End ….the political/economic ownership of downtownFort Smith, the CBID, stated they had no money to put into this quaint littlevenue and the CBID, i.e. Richard Griffin, declared “disregard financialconcerns and look at West End as a recreational amenity”.   Griffin further went on to state that WestEnd “sparkles” and he continued by saying “where did we get the idea that parkshave to show a profit?”  West End is nota public park.

Griffin’s awfully tight with his money and very loose withtaxpayers’ money.  Griffin obviouslyunderstands that West End is a financial loser and I’m amused that Mike Alsuppulled figures out of the sky and reached the conclusion that $45,500 would bethe operating expense and revenues would be within $500 of break-even.  Spoken like a true bureaucrat.

The Times Record stated to its readership that “Phil Whiteoffers to lease the property cheaply to the city just to keep it open”.   If anybody should keep it open it should bethe owner.  By the way, how much is “cheaply”?

2.      Ben Geren Park…..before getting into Ben Gerenand the salivating city & county governments, I keep seeing the phrase “Qualityof Place” being bandied around. The first question that comes to mind is howmuch did it cost taxpayers for some low level bureaucrat to create this touchylittle phrase?  Fess up, where did youget this phrase and while you are at it, tell us what it really means?  Reminiscent of government school phraseswhich are designed to make the taxpayers look simple and parasitic bureaucrats& politicians look smart.

It appears the deal has been cut for the city to annex someof Ben Geren and join hands with the county to create a huge expansionistprogram.

City Administrator Kelly already has the restaurant salestax passed, the revenues calculated and spent.

I will say here that I’m madder than hell that anyindividual that is a ward of the taxpayers, advocating a tax increase in thesetough economic times, should be kicked out in the street forthwith—Kelly andothers fit this description.  He goes onto say “750,000 for 2 girls’ softball fields, $2 ½ million for an aquaticcenter, and oh yes, 10 or more soccer fields (no cost given purposely?) specificallyfor illegal Mexicans & OTM’s, and poses questions, do we have more illegalsin these environs than reported or is the city anticipating another groundswellof more illegal Mexican aliens…which is it? If the county Sheriff, the Fort Smith Chief of Police, the FBI and otheralleged law enforcement agencies were doing their jobs, soccer fields would neverbe in the mindset, re:  multitudinousfields.

I have a suggestion, let the open-borders crowd, theslave-labor employers, the destructors of our standard of living, and those enamoredwith the “quality of place” jargon, pay the price for ALL the horrific costsillegals create.  I’m speaking of courseof Tyson’s, Simmon’s, OK Foods, Butterball, etc. and a host of constructioncompanies in the area, as well as organizations like the Chambers of Commerce,LULAC, MALDEF, LaRaza, Catholic Charities, and the Arkansas FriendshipCoalition.

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

Fort Smith