deceit

Use of Deceit

The Lie Detector is a parody (a joke) but the lies are not funny.

Backroom politics, secrets, and lies could result in Bristol Tennessee land owners having land stolen from them.

With all the conflicting information, how can you, the citizens of Bristol, know that you are getting the straight story from your government?

To assist you, we have made an investment in a fully functional lie detector. It is designed to "go off" any time somebody makes a false statement. We have put it to the test. Every time the city officials give their reasons for the Bristol land grab, it goes off. This proves it works!

Seriously, the lie detector is humor. You should have a sense of humor when your government is trying to molest you. The entire case for a redevelopment study from the beginning has been based on falseness. And the use of deceit is not funny, especially when it comes from your public servants.

The original resolution stated that studies had been done on the properties of south Bristol on their:

	location
	structure physical conditions
	land use
	social culture
	and economic conditions

These studies found that there was significant blight and deleterious land use. Therefore, the Housing authority should do a redevelopment and urban renewal plan.
See City Resolution 03-20

False: First, these property do not qualify as blighted. Second, what studies? By whom? When? Where were they done? Under who's authority? How were they done without involving a single property owner's input? If these studies had been done, don't you thing we would have seen them by now?

In fact, the entire city government is declaring the purpose of the redevelopment plan is to have a redevelopment study to actually determine if the property is blighted. Yet, the resolution states that they have already determined that. The resolution actually calls for "cleaning up the hood." Sounds like they have done it backward in Bristol, again.

It's a good thing that it is only half a town, think how bad it would be if they had to run both sides of State Street.

City officials told the Bristol Herald Courier that the area affected by the redevelopment plan was "all land south of the Wal-Mart Supercenter development being built on the Volunteer Parkway and includes parts of state Route 394" See The Bristol City Council tries to sneak it by

False: It was 50 acres directly in front of the speedway and between it's two main entrances on the Volunteer Parkway belonging to 4 owners. How could they confuse at least three miles of parkway with approximately one thousand foot of road frontage? Hey what's the difference, right? If our city leaders are as efficient with your money as they are with a ruler, then we are in trouble.

On the original resolution, Vice Mayor Kelly Graham said "he didn't have a conflict but wouldn't vote on the resolution" See The Bristol City Council tries to sneak it by

False: He has represented the race track numerous times in approaching Rogers Gardens' owner George Rogers in trying to persuade him to sell his land to BMS. The latest being August 2003. Darrell Proffitt has told us that Graham has approached him as well. How many real estate agents do you know that work commission free?

Besides, if Mr. Graham truly had no conflict, then why not vote. He did not vote because he did have a conflict. That was the right thing to do. Stating that he does not have a conflict, when he obviously does, was the wrong thing to do.

Those "greedy" land owners...
Mayor Shumaker stated that "It is not that any particular owner might not receive $3 or $4 million for his property, they want twice that.” See TV Report Property Value

False: Most land owners have not been approached at all, most do not have any part of their land for sell, and nobody has discussed price to the point of making a bona fide offer with 3/4 of these properties. Covered in robust detail under one penny.

Those "greedy" land owners...
Mayor Shumaker stated that "One of those pieces of property had an independent person come in, (a) real estate appraiser. (He) appraised the property at 2.3 million, they have been offered 3 plus million, but they want between 7 and 8 million dollars. It just boggles the mind." See "...This land is my land" (but I'll Sell it For A Song)

False: What boggles the mind is that anybody would make such hearsay statements in public and represent them as facts, especially a public servant. Firstly, the Mayor is referring to Mr. Proffitt's property, but Mr. Proffitt did not have this appraisal done. What the Mayor did not reveal was that these were appraisals done by the race track; for the benefit of the race track; and paid for by the race track; over three years ago on all 4 properties. He did not reveal that some properties have more current appraisals that are higher and despite being three year old appraisals, the BMS appraisals are fundamentally designed to skew the land value down. This is covered abundantly in Property Value.

Proffitt was offered over 3 plus million for part of his property, which is now under option for contract execution. Obviously, Mr. Mayor, someone thinks that it is worth more, only a fool would pay more for something than what it is worth. The 7 to 8 million figure was a number that Proffitt came up with for the entire parcel 35.2 acres, plus his business, its inventory, etc. A total buyout of everything but the shirt on this back.

Those "greedy" land owners...
Mayor Shumaker stated that, "another owner doing a good job of working the media, they were going out of business last year but now they want 5.5 million for the piece of property that they were closing up just last year". See "...This land is my land" (but I'll Sell it For A Song)

False: Shumaker is referring to Rogers Gardens with this fallacious statement. Mr. Shumaker let Mr. Rogers say it slowly for you so that even you can understand..."Boys and Girls...land not for sale....never got offered even one penny.... if no offer, then no counter offers." If you have a contract for 5.5 million, then please drop it off, George Rogers would like to see it.

As to going out of business, last fall 2002 Rogers Gardens repeated an awesome ad campaign that was used in the 1980's, the "going out for business clearance sale." Many very bright and intelligent people, both then and now, misread the ad and thought this was a "going out of business sale". They saw a word that was not there. (That's why it is such a great ad, but the same reason that we don't run it often) If bright and intelligent people were confused, then we can not expect any more of our Mayor. Rogers Gardens was open this past spring 2003 with a store full of plant material. Mr. Mayor, we know that you and others on the city council are awestruck with Bruton and the race track, but try looking to your right occasionally when driving toward "South Bristol.".

Mayor Shumaker has stated that the property across from the race track is valuable due to nothing the owners did, but entirely as a result of the speedway. See "...This land is my land" (but I'll Sell it For A Song)

False: The owners made an investment in their property and improved their properties. See Risk and Reward.

Bristol Housing Authority (BHA) Chairman David Wagner stated "This is all new to us. We haven't seen anything other than the council resolution." See No action taken on redevelopment study

False: He was at the original secret land grab strategy session, see EXTRA EXTRA: Who was at the secret meeting between BMS and the city?

Vice Mayor Kelly Graham said, "I'm probably in a situation where I can't vote, I have absolutely nothing to gain, but the city has the potential of a lot to gain." See Controversial study could expand

False: Mr. Graham does appear to have something to gain, representing BMS in its approaching of George Rogers of Rogers Gardens. As recently as August 2003. Darrell Proffitt has told us that Graham has approached him as well.

Yet we still find ourselves very confused by Graham's dichotomy. Mr. Graham, if you have nothing to gain, then why can't you vote. If you can't vote because of conflict of interest, then why to you say that you have nothing to gain? You can not have your cake and eat it too. Prior to this, Mr. Graham had reserved his right to vote in the future when he abstaining from voting on resolution 03-20. See EXTRA EXTRA Meeting Minutes from City Council Meeting.

As to what the city has to gain, simple. Tax Money. The Mayor made that abundantly clear on the Jody Lee Show. See "...This land is my land" (but I'll Sell it For A Song)