Open Letter to ALL East Ridge Election 2018 Candidates
To those candidates asking for our votes this fall, you should publicly address your understanding of the Industrial Development Board’s decision on a resolution to amend the Exit 1 LLC contract made with East Ridge in 2014. Now Exit 1 LLC, the developers of Jordan Crossing, says they selected a bad business model? Is that East Ridge’s fault? That fact was widely known to be the case years ago by many informed citizens and community activist Frances Pope.
Is it really in the city’s best interest to amend the agreement? What is the section being updated mean to those who might want an incentive agreement with the IDB down the road? I am not sure I followed the conversation in the IDB meeting correctly.
Oh wait, the three citizens that did attend the meeting were left with more questions than answers.
Oh wait, the “biased press” was in attendance also (Dick Cook, Publisher of East Ridge News Online, http://www.eastridgenewsonline.com/idb-approves-incentives-to-new-jacks-restaurant ) Please read the article and scroll down to the comments section. There are two posts from someone who seems to really get the Border Region Act stuff!
Matt Wood, a principal with Exit 1 LLC, attended the IDB meeting. Why would he be there if amending the agreement is just a formality? Can I ask if you have read the before and after contracts of the Exit 1 LLC that was passed through the IDB at the meeting Sept. 11, 2018? If City Attorney Mark Litchford says the IDB lawyer said it “was not required” to update the contract, then why? What’s the hurry now?
So why is the city doing just that if it is not required? Litchford said it many times, that the changes are not required, only that changes were recommended by the developers in the name of “new future businesses” at Jordan Crossing.
If this were a medical diagnosis, I would be asking for a second opinion ASAP!
I wonder how the next generation can be more involved in this city’s business if we are always scratching our heads trying to understand what the heck is going on NOW?
_ Laura Mathis
