Gary Armstrong, a frequent commission critic who has initiated a recall effort against three commissioners, was the first speaker of the night.
Armstrong said two commissioners have Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs) and alleged that a former city commissioner was part of “the plot, the scheme, the agenda that brought the immigration here … they’re working against us as citizens. They’re killing this city while several of you,” he said addressing the commissioners, “are making money out of these LLCs and renting to the Haitians.”
Such rumors about city officials being directly involved in the immigration of Haitians and reaping money from them while failing to address problems that have surfaced over the past two years, have circulated widely on social media.
Under a new commission protocol, commissioners delayed responding to speakers until the conclusion of the public comment period. When that time came, every member of the commission used part of their time to rebut allegations they are profiting from the influx of immigrants.
Mayor Rob Rue was the first to address the issue.
“I want to talk about the accusation about me having a partnership with someone who owns several rentals and I’m benefiting from immigrants in our community in owning rentals. I do not,” Rue said. “I do have an LLC that owns the business that I work in and three properties attached to that, that include seven total rentals … I have owned two of the rentals that have non-Haitian folks in them for 15 years. They are adjacent to my business.
“I bought two other properties, one of them I lived in when I was 1-year old, right behind my business, so we could have control of how they look,” Rue continued. “Over the decades I’ve seen them. They have been in shambles and it’s not that way anymore. I have control over the property.
“Each side is a three-bedroom, one-bath that I charge $900 for,” Rue said. “That’s it. You’ve just heard the extent of my entire rental property history … The whole purpose is to have a little bit of control over the whole neighborhood so that it looks good for the folks that are in our business.”
Rue stressed that he has not earned money from the influx of immigrants to the city.
“I in no way have benefited at all from the immigrants who have come into our community personally,” he said. “I’m not colluding with anybody, I have no relationship with any business that has ever benefited from immigrants in our community or the influx of population we have. I’m not benefiting at all from that. I want to make that very clear.”
Bridget Houston followed Rue’s lead, announcing “I own no rental properties. I own one LLC but no rental properties. I also want to address some of the narratives being floated around that honestly just divide this city even more.
“I’m not making any money off of any immigrants,” Houston said. “I’d be happy so show you my bank statements. I’ve probably lost money this year from the time I’ve taken away from my family and our business, and it’s put additional stress on my husband for managing the business.”
Commissioner Crystal Brown said she works in public education, saying she probably has the most degrees and makes the least amount of money.
“I live on the east side of town in a 900 square-foot home on a slab. I drive a Kia. I don’t have an LLC. I don’t have any rental properties, because again, I work in public education,” Brown said. “This job (with city commission) does not pay $100,000 a year or $60,000. It’s more … about 300 to 500 bucks a month.
“When I hear comments like ‘you need to come down off those seats’ … I’ve served this community for years working with our public,” Brown continued. “I bring that same spirit here … I want you to know how poor or middle class I am … I’m born and raised on the south side of Springfield, Ohio where people are afraid to go. … So I’m not removed from it … I’m out there every single day in these Springfield streets serving all people from all walks of life. … Please know I am not benefiting from immigration in any way.”
At the request of commissioner David Estrop, city finance director Katie Eviston shared specifics on the earnings of city commissioners.
Eviston spelled out the salary range, including that of the mayor, as $11,019.06 to $14,687.92 annually before taxes.
Estrop encouraged those in attendance to address their concerns to representatives at the state and federal level, where policies are being enacted that local officials have no control over.
He offered up a letter that had been drafted and made available to those in attendance to send to governmental officials at the state and federal level, which also included addresses for those representing Springfield-area residents.
Tracey Tackett said she is “a starving artist” and has run a small business for decades in downtown Springfield.
“My husband and I are both from here and he works at Navistar. We have no LLCs, no rentals,” Tackett said. “I do want to say I just graduated from The Ohio State University in May and I’m seeking employment, and that is even a struggle right now as I sit in this seat earning my $11,000 a year.”
The News-Sun found online records at the Ohio Secretary of State’s website showing that Tackett does have an active LLC, filed three months ago for her business, Sip & Dipity Paint Bar LTD.
Asked about it later in the week, Tackett confirmed the LLC is for her art studio business. She said that when she made the “no LLCs” comment at Tuesday’s meeting, she “was thinking of rental property LLCs that kept being the reference.” She said the art studio LLC is the only one she has.
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