More Spins than a Coney Island Carrousel

In regard to February 1, 2008 press release about the recall of Director Weatherford and Mayor Mike Bush, it is amazing to read the spin that City Director Kent Myers and Director Weatherford placed on the issue. They want the public to believe that this is only about the Baptist Hotel and only because of its Black Heritage. Sorry guys, that dog won’t hunt.

The Baptist Hotel was chosen as a backdrop for the icon as a sample of how far out of control our city government has gotten. The owner of the Baptist Hotel needed a certificate of occupancy dated December 31, 2006, but had not and still has not met the required repairs to obtain that certificate legitimately. Without that certificate, he stood to lose millions in Federal Tax Credits/Grants. Against the advice of the city’s own code department and fire department, the board of directors not only gave him a certificate, but backdated it to allow him to cash in from the government. If you or I did that, it would be called conspiracy to commit federal fraud. The difference between the Baptist and the other historic buildings is that the owners of the other buildings didn’t know who to make the check out to or maybe how much.

The only work on the Baptist since that time is the fire escape on the back of the building for all the people who don’t live there. It does however offer the children a place to play and the homeless a way into the building. Even the security fence in front of the building is now a hazard. There were options; other investors have been interested in the building and it could have been restored by now. So Mr. Weatherford, it would not have been torn down. Of course what do I know, I don’t have a State General Contractor’s License nor have I been cited numerous times for operating without one. Maybe that is something that you learned in Japan.

 

Now for the Rest of the Story. A recent survey conducted by the Garland Good Government Group showed that the vast majority of the citizens responding to a poll placed the removal of several Directors as one of the most important items to improve the Community. It an attempt to act as a conduit for these citizens, GGGG voted to take on the task. Although any issue requires a positive vote of 75% of the voting members present, it was unanimous that we start with Mayor Mike Bush and Director Carroll Weatherford as it was felt that we can’t wait for the next election.

The reasoning for the recall varies, from possible conspiracy to commit federal fraud, multiple personal bankruptcies by directors, arrogance to the public during meetings, catering to special interest groups in things like the bottleneck & Hi-Lo Terrace, awarding contracts to directors without competitive bidding, multiple trips for directors and staff to Japan, increased taxes (or fees if that makes Myers feel better) and a lack of personal financial responsibly to a run-a-way budget of over $2,600 per person ( at least 2.5 times greater than Little Rock.

Strange how Mr. Myers, in excerpts of his State of the City report, took credit for Highway 70 West, Carpenter Dam Road, rejunivation of Bath House Row and the repair of “malfunction junction”. Careful, if you pat yourself on the back too much you can spin yourself into a pretzel. Perhaps we should take the time to thank the little people like the Highway Department and Commission, County Judge Larry Williams, National Park Director Jose Fernandez, the investors at Magic Springs and the directors of the health care facilities. Sorry if I missed some but it is the countless many that should be credited with the successes. It is the very few that should bear the responsibility of the disasters.