Saturday, October 25, 2003
If you were a public official who wanted a dream home, wouldn't you arrange to buy 54 acres right next to a park you'd asked the voters to pay for?
I voted for Vernon Jones. I thought he represented a chance for more limited, more ethical government in DeKalb County. I was even thinking that after a couple of years running DeKalb, he could challenge the late unlamented Cynthia McKinney.
Recently we found out he has a more expensive security detachment than Shirly Franklin.
Now we find he's bought his dream "farm." Fifty four acres right next to a 5000 acre park that he convinced the voters of DeKalb County to buy.
Then, get this: Jones's salary is about $100,000 per annum. He bought the land and house for $550,000. Now tell me, what bank is going to support that sort of debt-to-salary ratio? No, there's something going on there. Some favor to some bank is either promised or expected.
I've absolutely no doubt that he decided to buy the land and decided to push through the park plans to increase the value of the property. I've no doubt the land will be rezoned. In 54 acres, given the way Atlanta's growing, you could put about 200 houses, not the 140 currently allowed. Right next to a 5000 acre preserve, you can be sure you'd sell at a huge premium to normal land prices. He knew that would be the case when he got the park approved.
This might well be his dream, if by "dream" you mean an insider transaction that gets flipped in a couple of years for a minimum of 1000% profit.
This has about it all the stench of corruption.
I voted for Vernon Jones. I thought he represented a chance for more limited, more ethical government in DeKalb County. I was even thinking that after a couple of years running DeKalb, he could challenge the late unlamented Cynthia McKinney.
Recently we found out he has a more expensive security detachment than Shirly Franklin.
Now we find he's bought his dream "farm." Fifty four acres right next to a 5000 acre park that he convinced the voters of DeKalb County to buy.
Then, get this: Jones's salary is about $100,000 per annum. He bought the land and house for $550,000. Now tell me, what bank is going to support that sort of debt-to-salary ratio? No, there's something going on there. Some favor to some bank is either promised or expected.
I've absolutely no doubt that he decided to buy the land and decided to push through the park plans to increase the value of the property. I've no doubt the land will be rezoned. In 54 acres, given the way Atlanta's growing, you could put about 200 houses, not the 140 currently allowed. Right next to a 5000 acre preserve, you can be sure you'd sell at a huge premium to normal land prices. He knew that would be the case when he got the park approved.
This might well be his dream, if by "dream" you mean an insider transaction that gets flipped in a couple of years for a minimum of 1000% profit.
This has about it all the stench of corruption.
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