X-WIRE : September 2014

Gina Burgess

SAY NO TO THE STATUS QUO -- LEGACY REVIEW COMMITTEE HAS GOT TO GO: The nine member Legacy “Review” Committee is just another farce in a looooong line of farces, whose purpose is to dupe the taxpaying community. The Committee is to be made up of 3 members of City Council, 3 members of the Henry administration, and three citizens (one selected by the Mayor, one selected by City Council, and one selected by the committee). This is a farce for a good number of reasons. First, the three City employees appointed by Henry are dependent upon Henry for job security. So they can be counted on to do whatever the Mayor bids them to do. For the record, those so-called appointees are: Al Moll, Director, Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department; Heather Presley-Cowen, Deputy Director, City of Fort Wayne Community Development Division; and Stephanie Crandall, Legislative & Business Liaison, City of Fort Wayne/Mayor’s Office.

Secondly, the 3 members of City Council “appointed” are downright laughable. All three of these guys have approved every single Legacy expenditure to date. Does anyone really expect them not to continue this status quo? Also, two of the three, Tom Smith (R-1st), Tom Didier (R-3rd), and Geoff Paddock (D-5th), are bought and paid for by Steel Dynamics. A quick review of campaign finances from 2011 and before prove Smith and Paddock are supported by Steel Dynamics. Why is this so relevant? Because Steel Dynamics founder, Keith Busse, was one of the main thrusts behind the “memo” from “community business leaders” to the original “Legacy Task Force” as to how Legacy Fund monies should be spent on “transformational projects.” Ironically, many of those “community business leaders” who signed the memo were also members…..MEMBERS…..of the original Legacy Task Force. This means these people essentially sent a memo to themselves to provide guidance and give legitimacy to the steering of the Legacy Fund honeypot to their pet “transformational” projects. Sadly, the only thing “transformational” about these projects is the funneling of community dollars away from taxpayers and into the pockets of those “community business leaders” via City of Fort Wayne/County of Allen contracts or the selling of goods and services to these projects, as funded by Legacy Fund monies and/or taxpayers dollars. (Of course, my favorite funnel remains the redirecting of the food and beverage tax away from paying down the Memorial Coliseum debt and into the Capital Improvements Board, which then makes that money available for these same so-called “transformational” projects, like the Ash “Cash and Slash” Brokerage project. That was pretty slick.)

Of the three council appointees, Tom Smith should be most ashamed. He was on Council during the time the administration entered into the agreement with the EPA regarding federal mandate to clean up the sewer overflow and decrease contaminants in the rivers. He knows that Legacy monies should be saved so that interest can build and pay off the new sewer tunnel. (Will somebody PLEASE run against this guy?!!) Of the remaining council members, Tom Didier and Geoff Paddock—I almost feel sorry for them. Both are possible Mayoral contenders and this puts both of them in the hot seat of increased public scrutiny. (Its interesting to note the absence of Mitch Harper from this line up.) I feel the worst for Paddock because if he doesn’t do the Mayor’s bidding, then the Mayor could retaliate with an attempted take-over of Headwaters Park by the Fort Wayne Parks Department as had been threatened in 2011. Also, if he fails to do the Mayor’s bidding, he will wind up with campaign coffers that will be minimalized due to Steel Dynamic’s withdrawal of support.

The above six appointees make up the majority on the new Legacy “Review” Committee, so the remaining three citizen appointees are rather moot. However, we are already gearing up for the 2015 municipal elections and with that will come some maneuvering by the three city council appointees. Two or more council members may not be as reliable as before. Therefore, for the powers to be to maintain control over the Legacy Funds, they need to be careful in their selection of “citizens.” Specifically, they need to make sure at least two of the three are “committed” (in bed with) to the “cause” (the establishment).

The first citizen to be selected is Ron Turpin of Lincoln Financial Group. Turpin is a VP for Lincoln Financial Group. He is also a board member of Greater Fort Wayne (which is a combination of the former Chamber of Commerce and Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development) and Riverfront Fort Wayne. Yep, he is pro-river front development. Guess which way he will be voting when it comes time to any “review”??

Now, some of you may be wondering what the tie in to Lincoln Financial Group is where all of this stuff is concerned. Municipal bonds. Huh, some of you are saying? Municipal bonds are essentially loans that municipalities take out for projects to pay for things upfront. Just like any loan, there is usually interest that has to be paid—although savvy financial investors can avoid interest on bonds….or they can create a plethora of additional interest to be paid on bonds. Now, why would anyone work to create additional interest on a municipal bond?? Well, if you are a bondholder or an investor in a bond, that is how you make your money from the bond. Municipal bonds and the money market is a complicated topic….too complicated for me to go into any real detail here. Just know that like Steel Dynamic (makers of structural steel—and to a lesser extent, their Whitley County neighbor, C. Henry Steel—headed up by Charles Henry, the Mayor’s brother), Hanning & Bean (real estate developers), Lincoln Financial Group plays a part in this whole “transformational” scheme via financing/municipal bonds. (As a matter of disclosure, Lincoln Financial Group is not the only one who plays in the financial arena with municipal bonds. Tower Financial Group, the former parent company of Tower Bank, as headed up by…..Keith Busse, Jerry Henry—another of the Mayor's brothers, and others.)

Folks, the Legacy Review Committee is merely a way to give legitimacy to future projects and take the heat (and accountability) off of City Council members. The Legacy Review Committee can give “recommendations” to City Council and City Council will approve those “recommendations” because “who are they” to “doubt” the “recommendations” of the “Legacy Review Committee.” Taking the heat off of City Council is important as the upcoming 2015 elections draw nearer. Those benefitting financially from this racket have a lot to lose if the current City Council were all voted out and replaced with new council members. The Legacy Review Committee is nothing more than an “out” for City Council, which is why it has to go.

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Gina Burgess For more information about the Mayor's appointees:http://cityoffortwayne.org/.../2725-mayor-henry-names...

MAYOR HENRY NAMES APPOINTMENTS TO LEGACY REVIEW COMMITTEE
www.cityoffortwayne.org
Official Website for the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Information on services and happenings of Fort Wayne Government.

Yesterday at 10:55am · Like
Gina Burgess For more information about the Council appointees:http://www.fortwayne.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...

Council names three to Legacy committee | FortWayne.com - Fort Wayne IN
www.fortwayne.com

City Council this week appointed three of its members to a new committee that will screen requests for funding through the city's Legacy program. Tom Smith, R-1st, Tom Didier, R-3rd, and Geoff Paddock, D-5th, will join the nine-member board that will ...

Yesterday at 10:56am · Like
Douglas B Pritchett They don't call it Lunacy Fund for nothing.

Yesterday at 11:37am · Like · 1
David Roach CSI-FORT WAYNE? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp6-wG5LLqE

Wont Get Fooled Again

From The Kids Are Alright

Yesterday at 1:57pm · Like
David Roach THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN LIFE IMITATING ART- OCEANS 11- only instead of looting "just over 160 million in your 3 vaults"- by outright thievery- if you have enough elected officials, appointed committees; bureaucratic schemers; and crony capitalist citizens; ie- your family, reinds, cronies, their families friends and cronies; and talk talk talk about it- ( essentially making the VAULT ROBBERY SEEM LEGITIMATE TO THE POPULACE- whos generally short attention span- their eyes start to glaze over; and tune out- which is what they want.- you can just bag it all up; and walk right out the front door with the cash; and never have to lookover your shoulder for the FEDERAL BANK ROBBERY TASK FORCE..-
If you walk into some bank downtown; and just stick it up- thats illegal- but BANK ROBBERY BY GOVERNMENT DECISION- THATS PERFECTLY LEGAL- WHY ARENT WE HEARING ANYTHING FROM THE LOCAL VOCIFEROUS TEA PARTY? because they are in on the CONSPIRACY AS WELL.- "i see them talking all the time, hanging out together- thick as thieves they are 9 WARDEN nORTON- SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION..
so you see- what they are doing- is somehow sanitized, legitimized, when in fact- itsnothing but THIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb2tjzecJX4

Ocean's Eleven (4/5) Movie CLIP - Benedict Gets Duped (2001) HD

Ocean's Eleven Movie Clip - watch all clipshttp://j.mp/xIbofk Buy Movie: http:/... See More

Yesterday at 2:06pm · Like · 1
David Roach While Henry; and "the usual suspects"( and not nearly as lovable as clooney, pitt, damon, and crew- get to overlook FREIMANN SQUARE fountain- then retire in wealth with OUR money.. with us left holding the bag..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDRE-S9f-W0

Ocean's 11 Fountain Scene

Fountain scene at the end of the movie Ocean's 11

Yesterday at 2:09pm · Like · 1
David Roach when in reality- its nothing more than this: (white collar crime is so much less messy-which is why wall street bankers never go to prison, but stick up a Walgreens, CVS; Bank and trust- and your locked up for decades..esp if you use a gun; and not a pen and pencil. i guess the Pen truly IS mightier than the SWORD?
LEGACY FUND ROBBERY- (movie trivia- compare this scene with the Joker bank robbery in "the dark knight..)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL9fnVtz_lc

Heat Shootout Scene [High Quality]

Scene from Movie Heat(1995) directed by Michael Mann;This is considered to be the best action scene on the history of american cinema...enjoy.

Yesterday at 2:15pm · Like · 1
David Roach WALL STREET TRICKLES DOWN TO MAINSTREET ( fort wayne..)- GREED IS GOOD.. and your average fort wayner- hasnt a clue..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF_iorX_MAw

Gordon Gekko "Greed is Good" Full Speech *read the description*

Gordon Gekko *unknowningly* describes the problems facing today's private sector... See More

Yesterday at 2:17pm · Like · 1
Ed Rose This committee is one more sad statement of government going rouge. They establish a committee to do the job of those elected to do. Then they will rubber stamp what this committee decides. It cuts the general public out as most of these meetings will receive little, to no media coverage. Proposals brought to council will only get an overview and not discussed in detail so residents will not fully understand if to form educated opinions on bequests.

Yesterday at 2:17pm · Like · 1
Gina Burgess Douglas B Pritchett, David Roach, Ed Rose and others who are reaching out to me via private messaging -- This behavior is going unchecked largely because people are not speaking out against it or standing up to it. It all stops if all current members of City Council are voted out. That can only happen if a bunch of new people run for office and/or help finance the campaigns of new people (time and/or money).

Yesterday at 2:31pm · Like
David Roach hmmm- good point, Ed Rose- and what of open meeting laws; transparency ; openess of govt- open door? i thought the County Ethics commission took care of all that- ?- look at how Beth Malloy; and the city legacy web site got treated- "citizen Input" ?? HO HO 1 WHATTA JOKE- Malloy got AXED; and the CITIZENS INPUT? POOF!!- as well as all the (carefully selected/screened )- suggestions. I recall there were a lot of votes for a vegas style hotel casion- at the North River site( if you build it , the legalization/ etc; will come..) AND- a Speedway/racetrack- somewhere..
instead- we will have mass demolition of every marginal affordable "fixer-upper" house in Central fort wayne- due to"blight; its an ewww- eyesore; etc- to GENTRIFY the city- drive out the poor, the riff raff; the minorities who then wont be able to afford to live here9ETHNIC CLEANSING?)- to then hire or hand pick DEVELOPERS- to REDEVELOP those areas no cleansed of BLIGHT..- meanwhile- the city loses its architectural heritage- except hand picked locations;areas; - the poor wont get a dime of Legacy money- to fix repair their homes- A roof here; a HVAC there; Plumbing; windows, doorts, a paint job; siding- etc- ; the homless will be driven out of the Superior street part of town- walking blight?)- and the 1000+ houses- vacant- sitting idle- which need little TLC to make them livable- will languish in limbo- the county owned CDC houses; the city owned houses- foreclosed, sheriff sales; what have you- until THEY TOO ARE blighted eyesores- and are then demolished in theirown due time- while the cycle repeats itself. - instead of Homless squatters( allegedly)- being cleared out; drug houses ( again..)- allegedly; and so on- where they coud be pt to work and live in /shelter in these houses as they are being remodeled/renovated ( like the rest of us)- OH- ITS JUST A DIRTY BUSINESS WE HAVE HERE. - Im waiting for the GE Comples; on broadway; the WAYNE PUMP BUILDINGS OVER BY MEMORIAL PARK- TO ALSO FALL INTO DISREPEAIR- AND GO THE WAY OF THE sTUDEBAKER COMPLEX IN SOUTH BEND.. - 60,000 BUCKS TO OPEN A PUBLIC POOL BY SWINNEY PARK FOR THE POOR KIDS OF NEBRASKA ; BLOOMINGDALE; - and the College ave/west central kids to bike to free? ohhh- theres NOO money for that..- and thats not GLAMOROUS- but build the equivalent of a shiny new GM high rise on the DETROIT RIVER- the ASSH-BORER BUILDING- thats a different story- VAULT LOADS OF CASH FOR THAT.. FORT WAYNE IS LITTLE MORE THAN DETROIT; GARY; BUFFALO- EXCEPT IN OUR ZOO- OUR WARTHOGS GET LIPSTICK...( lipstick on a warthog- get it? lol..-
Ross Perot once made a quipTHEY WANT TO BUY YOUR VOTE WITH YOUR MONEY..- what it is.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKkRDMil0bw

Network (1976) - Ned Beatty - "The World is a Business"

Network (1976) - Peter Finch http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/ Arthur Jensen ... See More

Yesterday at 2:34pm · Like
Gina Burgess David Roach-- County Ethics Commission only applies to COUNTY workers, not City workers. Its a loophole.

Yesterday at 2:35pm · Like · 1
David Roach gina- imagine that. and a private policing association/lobbyist- with no authorized authority- is able to dismiss sheriffs "appearance of impropriety"- ditto for our local ACEB- which is supposed to "police"- the conduct of elected officials and their compliance with state/local election laws- WOTTA JOKE.. PUTS THE "MOCK" IN DE -mOCK-CRACY?
WALL STREET VALUES;ETHICS- NOT MAIN STREET.. ( hmm-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XYwNiNh0sY

The Wolf of Wall Street Speech

Yesterday at 2:40pm · Like
David Roach be sure to bookmark these fun movie clips..topical-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0lByEmGkkU

The Wolf of Wall Street Yacht Scene

Yesterday at 2:41pm · Like
John Veltum OMG How can you stand living in such a corrupt city? Fox News has a job for you.

Yesterday at 3:04pm · Like
Gina Burgess John Veltum -- Your sarcasm isn't lost here. However, I really do wonder what your true feelings are? How much in taxes are you willing to pay for all this transformation? And please realize that all those jobs being created by the Ash Brokerage project are already being promised to Ash Brokerage workers, who will be relocating from Michigan (where an Ash Brokerage operation is closing) to here.

Yesterday at 3:08pm · Like · 1
David Roach Gina- youre right- the issue is crony capitalism- the rich getting rich at the expense of the poor. its a pyramid scheme- the royals get their monuments built to their everlasting magnificance; while the rest of us are hauling the stones up the hills-...See More

Yesterday at 3:31pm · Like
David Roach spoken like a true ardent socialist democrat? tee hee.. Eugene v debs- eat your heart out.. someones going to jail....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh3bSzDQ1Po

The Wolf of Wall Street-FBI Arrest Scene(Mrs Robinson Scene)+Ending Scene

Мrs Robinson Scene Scorsese shots the best arrest scenes. This video is not mine... See More

Yesterday at 3:33pm · Edited · Like
Douglas B Pritchett As long as only rich doctors, influential attorneys and the like have the money and influence to be elected, regular taxpayers will not want to mortgage their homes and ruin their private lives in order to serve. Term limits and non-partisan elections might be a start.

Yesterday at 3:44pm · Like · 2
David Legalize Marijuajuana Roach LOCAL VOTERS NEED TO WISE UP- and stop being led like sheep by a bunch of lying liars- the 2 party system is broken when both parties collude; conspire; divvy the spoils, etc- WE can NULLIFY the power of money- its not hard to learn about candidates online- google; bing; aol, yahoo, and so on- most folks have smart phones; most poor folks vote straight democrat; most of rht GREEDS OWN PARTY- well- they vote GOP.. a simple start..

about a minute ago · Like