Joyce Elliott is facing an incredible assault by corporate interest and their puppet paper, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Her primary opponent, Fred Allen, hoping to further his political career in the face of being term limited, has made himself the willing pawn of these interests, including some that are doing some rather unconscionable things in Little Rock.
Allen’s campaign treasurer is Dickson Flake, who is on the board of the extremely controversial Tech Park Authority, a Chamber of Commerce boondoggle using, so far, $22 million in taxpayer funds (not a dime of private money has been raised) with no oversight and some shady dealings. What’s worse though is what the Tech Park Authority is aiming to do in Little Rock. Several notable figures in the Little Rock community have stepped up, along with neighborhood organizations, Occupy LR, the works, to fight against eminent domain use that would evict an entire neighborhood of poor, African American, Little Rock residents and lead to the destruction of their homes. Tech Park Authority advocates assure that the residents will be granted adequate compensation for their homes, but considering that we’re talking about a poor neighborhood here that compensation isn’t going to get them shelter much anywhere else. It’s a really unconscionable move by a shady and unnecessary entity, and considering these close ties to the TPA you can bet that Fred Allen will be their willing tool in the state legislature.
Joyce Elliott has spoken up and questioned the necessity of the TPA. She’s fighting, as she always has, for the people who would be victimized by corporate greed. We can’t afford to lose her in the state legislature, and we can’t afford to have Fred Allen win this senate seat.
