EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT

The reporter for a local news publication apparently has accused two individuals of unwarranted and unfounded  attacks on Mayor Ron Blum and stated the these same individuals had previously filed complaints with MoDOT and The FAA, as if it is wrong to file a complaint with the FAA.  One of the individuals has not filed any complaints with the FAA or MoDOT.  If the facts were unfounded, Why  did Blum go to the county and pay the taxes?

You had to be real quick to read about it online, because the article has been removed from the online source, and updated.  The local news publication has admitted to incorrectly reporting the facts.  What appears to have happened was that the local news publication was trying to protect Ron Blum from a potentially embarrassing situation, and possible a legal nightmare.   To make the claim to have incorrectly interpreted what Copeland said is hard to believe.  It is a long way between having to pay taxes on personal property if you own it, and not having to pay taxes on it if you are not using it.  This is common knowledge and again has the appearance that the local news publication is trying to protect the mayor.  The updated article is now saying that it is taken care of, and the matter is closed.  The matter of the taxes might be closed, but what did the mayor sign when he declared his running for office?  Also assets were transferred from a corporation to a private individual, according to the DOR, sales taxes are due on the transfer of these assets.  

The article also claimed that a phone call to the county assessor confirmed that Ron Blum did not need to pay taxes on personal property because it was not being used.  The article did not state who made the phone call.  To claim a have incorrectly interpreted comments from Copeland is ridiculous.  This goes to show how far the local news publication will go to protect the mayor, even when it is obvious that they know better.  To think that this explanation would stand up and to print it and expect the public to believe it shows what little respect the city and the reporter have for the intelligence of the general public. 

This might have been an oversight, on the mayor’s part, no big deal; but to claim that taxes were not due because it is not being used, and to claim that the assessor agreed to this, and to get it printed in the newspaper, that’s another matter altogether.  This shows how much influence city hall has over what is reported in the newspaper.

This appears to be a situation of the local news publication, lying to cover up something that the mayor has done, or did not do.  Why would someone do this? 

Phone calls to the county assessor later on confirmed that he was mis-quoted in the article. 

This article was more concerned with who is making trouble for the mayor, than about the issue of the unpaid taxes.  The next piece on this should be about the filing for the mayor’s office.  Did Ron Blum make a false statement when he filed for mayor?  Did he commit perjury?  The reporter should look into this document and print the facts.  Did Ron Blum owed taxes when he ran for mayor?  

The last four paragraphs of the article refer to the airport and the closure and are obviously  trying to move the focus of this night mare and make it look like a couple of individuals are just trying to cause trouble because of the city’s attempt to close the airport.   It is obvious that the entire purpose of the article is to divert attention from the fact that Ron Blum could possibly have violated the law and should not be the mayor of St. Clair.