The Death of a City
Who’s Killing Conway?
Part I
I’m killing Conway, one decision at a time, and I don’t care. I’m untouchable. I am the city’s CEO. My family and friends benefit from the decisions I make. The City Council works for me. The Planning Commission works for me. Conway Corporation works for me. The Police Chief works for me. I control the local media. I am the Alpha and the Omega. Do you know who I am?
I am the one that allows a select few to build massive amounts of generational wealth at the expense of my town’s future. I control the decisions that come out of City Council. I distribute the wealth. I cannot be stopped. I do not care about the future. I can spend $650,000 of your money to buy 2 more years in office and secure my pension and you can’t stop me.
One of my City Councilmen beats his wife, repeatedly violates Orders of Protection issued by Judge Reynolds, is charged with a felony burglary charge and I stand by and let it all happen without consequence. It’s all public record. I have this Councilmen’s support with his voting and he has my support with my political influence. The Prosecuting Attorney works for me also and he knows I do not want to prosecute, nor do I want my Police Officers to investigate any further. I leave this case open to keep people off my back. I will not let the City Attorney get involved, for I am your Ruler.
I am the one that closed the streets downtown in November and December so the merchants couldn’t conduct business during the Holiday Season. Although I apologized later, my damage was done. As long as the construction wasn’t in front of Mike’s Place, I didn’t care.
Speaking of, I am the one that is making Conway wet one restaurant at a time by hand-picking who I will let get a liquor license and who I will not. Make no mistake; I am the one that controls these decisions. I want 40 liquor licenses in town before I retire. The package goods stores and strip clubs will come after I am no longer in office, but I won’t care. I allowed my friends at Rush/Hal to sell their Cadron Valley liquor license to Stefano’s. I don’t care what you think. I want yet another downtown restaurant with a liquor license. And I will get it, and it shall be called - Michelangelo’s.
When my friends at the Seayco Group needed some extra money to restore the Halter building, I gave them $300,000 of your federal grant money that was assigned to a downtown Conway drainage project. I don’t care what the public thinks, nor do I care what the federal government thinks.
When I want to flex my muscle, I do things like creating the Hamburger Tax, which is a 2% sales tax on the gross receipts of the sale of prepared food and beverages in the city of Conway. I instituted that tax without the approval of my constituents, because I can.
WHO AM I
If you know my identity, and don’t care about the aforementioned, you are obviously a friend and I thank you. If you need more help, look for Part II in the mail shortly. I’ll go into more detail about my relationship with UCA, my City Councilmen and a few of my wealthy developer friends. Please feel free to send this to your friends, for I want them to know my power, and I want them to bow before me.
A famous proverb reads "You are who you help".
