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News Reports 12/15/1791 - 9/14/2003
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12/15/1791 US Constitution is Amended
05/05/1870 Tennessee Constitution goes into affect
09/03/2003 The Bristol City Council tries to sneak it by
09/03/2003 EXTRA Copy of City Resolution 03-20
09/03/2003
EXTRA EXTRA Meeting Minutes from City Council Meeting
09/07/2003 They want my Property
09/11/2003 South Bristol Plans should be
public
09/12/2003 BMS breaks ground for new
building
09/13/2003 Shumaker speaks
out about south Bristol study
09/05/2003
EXTRA: Read the Advice of City Attorney
08/26/2003 EXTRA EXTRA: Who was at the secret meeting between BMS and the
city?
09/14/2003 Shame on
the City
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December 15, 1791
U.S. Constitution is Amended. US History. The state
of Virginia becomes the last state to ratify the Bill of Rights officially
creating the first 10 amendments to the constitution of the United States.
The Bill of Rights establishes basic American civil liberties that the
government cannot violate, including freedom of religion, freedom of the press,
freedom of assembly, & the right to bear arms.
These liberties also include protecting Americans from an evil abusive
government actions such as: protection from unreasonable search and seizures, cruel and
unusual punishment, being tried for a crime twice, being denied a trial or
witnesses, and
that your property can not be taken away from you unless it is for a public purpose
(Fifth Amendment).
Note: This is not recent news, but it may be news to the Bristol City Council,
so it is included.
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May 5, 1870
Tennessee Constitution goes into affect. TN History. Tennessee
adopts a constitution to govern its citizens. It includes many protections
from the government including the prohibition of the taking of private land for anything other than
public use.
Sec. 21. No man's services or property taken without consent or compensation.
That no man's particular services shall be demanded, or property taken, or
applied to public use, without the consent of his representatives, or
without just compensation being made therefor.
Note: This is not recent news, but it may be news to the Bristol City Council,
so it is included.
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September 3, 2003.
The Bristol City Council tries to sneak it by. Bristol Herald
Courier story first breaks the news of the city's plans.
At the city council meeting, the newspaper was told
by city officials,
and therefore reported, that
 the area
affected was "all land south of the Wal-Mart Supercenter development being built
near Volunteer Parkway and includes parts of state Route 394.";
In fact, it
was just four owners' properties directly in front of Bristol Motor Speedway.
The government conveniently forgot to give the newspaper "Appendix A" that named the
individual properties.
City officials even refused, at first, to give us a copy, saying that the appendix, "did
not exist." Kelly Graham
said
"he
didn't have a conflict but wouldn't vote on the resolution". However,
Councilman Graham has approached Mr. George Rogers on several occasions on
behalf of the speedway encouraging him to "go meet with Jeff Byrd" and sell his
land to the race track. He has approached Darrel Proffitt numerous times as well. As stated
frequently, Mr. Rogers has declared that
the land is not for sell, however, if anyone would like to buy it he will look at any
reasonable offers. To date he not received a bona fide offer from anyone.
See
One Penny.
How can Kelly Graham not have a conflict when he is representing the
racetrack as a real-estate agent to purchase land on their behalf?
Note that the
first part of this article is about a tax increase; to read about the Land Grab
go to the 7th paragraph from the story's end.
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EXTRA: Read City Council Resolution 03-20
Microsoft
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EXTRA EXTRA
Meeting Minutes from City Council Meeting
Below is copied directly from the City Council Minutes for
September 2, 2003. The full minutes are available via link below.
03-20- A Resolution Authorizing the BHRA to Prepare a
Redevelopment Plan for South Bristol. City Massey Tony Massey
reviewed this Resolution, which authorizes the Bristol Housing and Redevelopment
Authority to prepare a redevelopment and urban renewal plan. Councilwoman Bane
said she would not participate in the vote. Councilman Gaines moved to approve
the Resolution, and Mayor Shumaker seconded. Vice Mayor Graham stated that he
would not vote on this Resolution this evening, but reserves the right to do so
at a later date. Councilman Gaines said the study is a good idea and needs to be
done before any decisions can be made. The Resolution passed with the following
roll call vote.
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Councilman Gaines |
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Yes |
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Mayor Shumaker |
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Yes |
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Councilman Messimer |
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Yes |
Complete Minutes of the Meeting
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Free Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
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September 7, 2003.
They want my Property. Bristol Herald
Courier Sunday Centerpiece front page story unmasking the city's real agenda,
taking land just in front of the race track. Notice that Bristol's
public servants
 Mayor David Shumaker and City Manager
Anthony "Tony" Massey have no
comment when asked if the city action was done at the bidding of the Bristol
Motor Speedway, referring the question race track, who also has no comment.
The story mentions that George Rogers of Rogers Gardens was approached by the
race track about selling his land to the track, and Jimmy Warden of Tennessee Valley was never
approached. To clarify, and we will say this over and over, neither
Rogers, Warden or King, with Jack's service center has ever received a bona fide offer
of even
one penny
for their property by anyone.
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September 11, 2003.
South Bristol Plans should be public. Bristol Herald
Courier Editorial points out that there are more vacant than empty buildings
in South Bristol, pointing out such notables as Kmart, Ames, Kroger, Winn-Dixie
and the Cheers restaurant building. Also criticizes the the city council for
not answering questions when they are public servants.
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September 12, 2003.
BMS breaks ground for new building. Bristol Herald
Courier story about the new race track offices that are being built. The
article mentions that their new building will replace their current office
building, modular units and the souvenir store. Note that their new
building will also replace a parking lot. There is no specific
discussion of the land grab, but it is obvious from the photograph that their
offices will be high enough to see over into Proffitt's Auto Recycling Business.
We leave it up to you to connect the dots.
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September 13, 2003.
Shumaker speaks out about south Bristol study. Bristol Herald
Courier story in which Shumaker breaks the city silence (against the city
attorney's advice) and reveals that Bristol Motor Speedway was behind the land grab efforts.
The Mayor states that residents' "big concern wasn't what we were doing, but that
we weren't telling everybody, that our silence made it seem like we were doing
something illegal or immoral"
Mr. Mayor, it is not illegal or
immoral, you have actually pulled off both at the same time. See We Plead the
Fifth. The mayor states that the race track wanted to "try to get this
negotiation process going with some real talk about purchasing that land."
If they want the land, how about making a bona fide offer of at least
one penny.
Shumaker states that he believes that Proffitt's auto recycling business would
qualify as blight. This almost set off the lie
detector, but it is clear that he just ignorant as to what blight means.
See What is Blight?
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EXTRA: Read the Advice
of the City Attorney
Notice the use of the word "scheme." I think the subtle message to
city council is "what you are doing is illegal."
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EXTRA EXTRA: Who was at the secret meeting between BMS and the city?
On August 22nd, Mayor David Shumaker, Vice Mayor Kelly
Graham, City Manager Anthony "Tony" Massey, BHA Chair David Wagner, BHA Director Steve
Scyphers, Jeff Byrd, Bruton Smith and Don Tiller (Knoxville Housing Authority)
met. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss utilization of the Housing
Authority's development abilities to acquire properties in the vicinity of BMS
for redevelopment.
Don't take our word, check out item #7 (BHA stands for Bristol Housing
Authority)
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September 14, 2003.
Shame on the City. Bristol Herald
Courier Letter to the Editor. A local business man makes his
feelings known about the city, its failure to create anything other than part
time jobs, and the targeting of local businesses. Straight to the point!
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