AWAKE: Erma Hendrix

  • AWAKE: Erma Hendrix

Official resistance is growing to seizure of private residences for the proposed Little Rock Technology Park office building. A city director has added her voice to criticism of a resolution offered by City Director Dean Kumpuris to delay site selection for a study of all possible locations in the city for the taxpayer-financed office building, which would be rented to private companies.

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I summarized some of this yesterday, including this statement by Justice of the Peace Donna Massey, who, as a Quorum Court member, represents the neighborhoods targeted by the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, which controls the authority, for seizure. Said Massey of a letter written by Dr. Anika Whitfield in support of Director Kenneth Richardson’s proposal to prohibit using city money to take private homes in condemnations:

I also concur with Dr. Whitfield. A resolution is not enough to ensure my home and many others in Midtown will not be destroyed. A resolution is a nice gesture; however, real commitment must be exemplified through an ordinance.

Massey sent her letter to the City Board. It prompted this response from Director Erma Hendrix:

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YOU HAVE “DITTO’D MY RESPONSE, TO DEAN KUMPURIS, CONCERNING THE “RESOLUTION,” ABOUT LOCATING THE “PARK” ANYWHERE I[N] THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK. “BULL.”

I AM NOT “ASLEEP.”