3 years ago
11/13/17 Oh my...How does one describe Grand Cente...
11/13/17 Oh my...How does one describe Grand Center Incorporated? First - Grand Center is a neighborhood that sits in the Midtown area of Saint Louis City and is what could be referred to as the "Hole In the Middle of the Donut". While other neighborhoods in the city have somewhat progressed, developed and moved forward (ie..Central West End, South Grand, Downtown, Cortex, Parts of North City, Mangrove) Grand Center still remains vacant and desolate with broken sidewalks, empty lots and failing businesses (failed businesses all promoted by the Sad Grand Center Board Members / "The Klan"). Grand Center Inc. is a Quasi Governmental Organization made up of a group of Privileged Individuals. Privileges earned not by individual virtue but mostly because of the fortunes they inherited from someone else's work. However these "Klan Members" never seem to miss opportunities to pat each other on the back throwing multiple galas to celebrate some "Imaginary Achievement".
Although development plans have been publicized throughout the past 20 plus years, and taxpayers money spent to the tune of 8o+ Million Dollars, there are a small number of Private Property Owners, including myself, that haven't been screwed over just yet, despite relentless efforts by the "Klan" toward that goal. I suppose that's what happens when someone wants another's property, but does not want to pay for it. We read about this all the time.
As of today Grand Center Inc. has employed a Little Girl by the name of Karin Hagaman who was provided with the job title of, President & CEO..(google; past news articles detailing the "International Search" performed in order to find someone of "her caliber" to fill that position, only to find her just down the street, at CORTEX). Karin replaced the Old Political Baggage Vince Schoemehl, who, some lifetime ago, was elected mayor of Saint Louis City (how he got to that position God only knows...but then, the bench-mark in this city is very low). The recycled Vince Schoemehl now has a desk and chair at KETC Channel 09, in Grand Center still (I believe his new title there is "Fake Executive".) That said, GCI consist of around 42 Board Members (most of which have no residence or business interest in the neighborhood.) Some of the Less Notable Characters that sit on their Board is: Emily Pulitzer (married into the Pulitzer fortune)...Ken Kranzberg (inherited Daddies Plastics Co)...Michael McMillan (Civil Rights Leader??? go figure)... SLU (Jesuit institution well known for screwing over small business owners), and the list goes on and on.
In 2005 soon after I purchased my property in Grand Center, I have to admit, I was warned about this Grand Center Group, aka "Klan Members", and was told by others that they work like snakes in the grass to destroy non "Members" (ie..Rallying the City Tax Assessors Office to raise certain property owners taxes, in an effort to squeeze them out). I have to say, I was shocked when the City Council Woman for this neighborhood, district 19, (Marlene Davis, former secretary for Michael McMillan - Urban League), called and threatened, "that we had better get out of our property, or she would make things worse for us." Really!!! Imagine, in this day and age, an Uneducated Over Weight Black Woman trying to intimidate Me..a Black Male, Property and Business Owner out of his property. How dare Me buy a property...Restore it...And put it to use in the Grand Center Neighborhood without bowing to the "Klan!"
So, here is the low...I purchased a property in Grand Center in 05' and since that time I have dealt with increased property taxes (64 folds in 10 years, raised at a faster rate than the rest of the country), false police reports, threats, made-up charges billed from different city departments, boycotting, harassment from different people associated with Grand Center Inc., and spy's coming into my business. --But, Guess What? Here is my conclusion about the "Klan":They Will Always Be A "Pathetic Group", despite their Self Promoting Efforts. --And, I Will Stay Strong--
***STAY TUNED FOR PART II***