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Robbin' the HoodI have formed a nationwide group to fight seizures of Americans' homes and businesses called EMINENT DOMAIN NOT! In each major city the developers, developer lawyers, the bankers, big construction and the bond traders have formed a hidden government. It operates outside public scrutiny, taking citizens' property using our tax money, aided by politicians who get "campaign contributions."In Kansas City, one political group, Freedom Inc., asked for a $l25,000 "contribution" for their vote. This bribe was an insult to the Black community when you consider that the total project is worth half a billion dollars.
Centertainment in downtown Kansas City is a case in point. The project's figures don't add up. "Additionally, it looks as if they have been "cooked" to come up with a favorable result. Just one example: the retail outlets will operate at 100% occupancy for 23 years at Overland Park Mall rates!
AMC defrauded its own stockholders last year by shifting money to phony bank accounts. The executives were convicted. We are supposed to trust these guys with a $454 million project in which they admit they are only putting in $43 million and some old buildings. One of the buildings, the Empire Theater, its secret ownership buried in some shell corporations, is owned by last year's scandal, the Morgan Group of financiers. Two trees are now growing on the roof.
AMC has an erstwhile partner, Planet Hollywood. Maybe we can trust them? They have closed stores all over Europe and Asia. Their sales have dropped about 25% in the last two years. In Malaysia they defrauded a princess out of a million bucks.
Maybe we can trust the EDC,(Economic Development Corporation) through which all of this public money is funneled. At last count, six people associated with development have been indicted and five convicted. Activist Phil Klein calls the EDC, "the B.C.C.I. of Kansas City."
This project assumes that something is wrong with downtown. There are 103 restaurants downtown with 26 more in the Mexican American corridor. There is Crown Center, the Union Station, the art gallery Freighthouse District, Quality Hill, the River Quay with its fabulous steamboat exhibit, and the government complex as well as new banks, hotels, the Convention Center, and the 18 buildings DST has refurbished. There are 60 viable businesses in the District, some with 40 and 50 years of service, (American Formal Wear, Justrite, and Gigi's Wigs) that will be seized along with 2-4000 parking spaces.
AMC and Centertainment have portrayed themselves as Robbin Hood. In reality, they are "robbin the hood." Our taxes will be skimmed off the top and will go into the developer's pocket rather than for our schools or to fight crime - FOR 23 YEARS. You will be asked later to make up this hole in the tax base.
If you believe in smoke and mirrors or the wasteland of the Glover Plan, vote "for." If you want to keep your taxes low vote "NO!" on February 3rd.
Grant Stauffer, Chair Eminent Domain Not! P.O. Box 32731. Kansas City, MO 64l7l (816) 56l-3596
Favorite Pro-Freedom Links
The Libertarian Party of Missouri
Sam's Politically Incorrect Web Page
The Free Market Foundation