My favorite part of this is that they were in regular communication with Jim feeling out his offer for a month pretending it was about the facade/permits and "how can we help make this a great project" type stuff.

Meanwhile, actively bidding against him.

People have been questioning this purchase for a long time. And there has been speculation that a lot of what was seen in the emails actually happened, there just had not been any proof.

If any local media were curious, they would have done the open records request themselves instead of waiting for a citizen to do the legwork.

Fullhart is gone.

And the Patel fellow that worked at the Eagle 15 years ago or whenever it was is also gone. He would have asked. He was the best investigative reporter in town.

This board had driven headlines in the past, and may again in this case, but KBTX and The Eagle aren't going to dig in this.

The Texas Tribune doesn't seem to like most things involving A&M. I could see them getting nosy since City Hall is across the street from campus, but it would be way down their list of stories to pursue. And i would rather they stay in Austin and eat hipster tacos and pop-culture approved BBQ.

I've only lived here since 2020 and am disappointed with what I've seen so far. I say flood the meetings with 3 minute speakers. That will make the news and get others to pay attention.

Chrundle the Great said:

---

My favorite part of this is that they were in regular communication with Jim feeling out his offer for a month pretending it was about the facade/permits and "how can we help make this a great project" type stuff.

Meanwhile, actively bidding against him.

---

That's the backhanded, crooked, two-faced, double dealing part.

He brought the concept to the city because it was the economic development folks. They would need to be in the know and would ostensibly *help* with this. But no, let's overbid and watch the whole thing crash and burn, make an exit stage left, and try to cover it up.

WTAW might ask some Qs, but they mostly throw softballs too.

Somebody needs to call Grizzy's Hood News, or Wayne Dolcefino in Houston.

dubi said:

---

Update your initial posts to have actual names instead of initials.

It was too hard to read scrolling back and forth trying to keep track of the key players.

---

If Staff would allow it, I would. I was too worried about getting a ban for naming names.

You should be able to name names. These are public servants and their decisions can and should be scrutinized.

Cartographer said:

---

You should be able to name names. These are public servants and their decisions can and should be scrutinized.

---

This.

Plus, Aggies don't lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those that do.

Right?

Need a summary of the shenanigans. Print it out and have the first person that speaks start reading it, then leave it up for the following people so that the whole summary gets laid out to the council.

Read the thread.

Todd mcIlhaney said:

---

I'm happy to respond but you need to be clear what you're asking.

---

Is everything we deduced out of reading through that records request true?

Was the mayor in the know, and driving things with the City Manager?

Why was this covered up? Why all the smoke and mirrors?

Why was Natalie Ruiz allowed to "retire" after this huge debacle?

How much are we continuing to pay to maintain this mold infested boat anchor?

Edit to add: WHY ARE THEY PLAYING MONOPOLY WITH TAXPAYERS MONEY?

There's some questions.

Todd mcIlhaney said:

---

UhOhNoAgTag said:

---

Which thead?

---

---

This one, along with the open records PDF in the first post.

As a rookie, you're going to hit the 5 post limit. To answer, you may have to edit your initial post.

In a September 1, 2022, interview Woods said "The city appraised the value of the LAND, depending on its eventual use, of between 6.5 and 11.5 million"

Seems odd how he only spoke of the land and not the building almost like they were going to parcel out pads and sell them

3 years later we have a building full of mold HVAC that does not work and a big parking lot and no one has told us how much this ownership costs on a monthly basis.

He needs to be held accountable for sure

Hornbeck said:

---

WTAW might ask some Qs, but they mostly throw softballs too.

Somebody needs to call Grizzy's Hood News, or Wayne Dolcefino in Houston.

---

Houston media is probably our best bet. They are close enough geographically for the purpose of interest/relevance but have enough distance from ground zero to not be scared of the consequences of the good ol boy network up here.

One Louder said:

---

Hornbeck said:

---

WTAW might ask some Qs, but they mostly throw softballs too.

Somebody needs to call Grizzy's Hood News, or Wayne Dolcefino in Houston.

---

Houston media is probably our best bet. They are close enough geographically for the purpose of interest/relevance but have enough distance from ground zero to not be scared of the consequences of the good ol boy network up here.

---

I've seen that that's the only way to get the locals involved. The Asset Hero guy wasn't a local story until Houston guys came up and started poking around.

Hornbeck said:

---

I think several of us should speak.
Brian Alg, Elite, me, Officer Fred, Jim Lewis… I could keep going but you guys get the picture. If enough of us speak, we won't out ourselves as bad.

---

I don't care about outing myself (obviously I post here under my business name lol) but I am not a CoCS citizen. I live in Bryan, however my business is in CoCS so technically I am a taxpayer.

I think people showing up and calling them out is a great idea and would probably help Mr. Yancy out greatly. I am down to show up for moral support but not being a resident IDK if I could speak.

If I could speak the questions I would ask would be-
1. Who had it out for Jim Lewis
2. What if anything were the relationships between those involved on the city level and the owners of Grand Station

Only logical reason I see for CoCS harpooning Jim on this deal is either personal or someone around the corner didn't want competition and friends at city hall protected them.

I would suggest coming to the:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15kkEDcdQS/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Page.

We need 10 people to come to 1 council meeting and we get 10 straight min's to speak before council.

This group has over 1200 members and growing of people who want to see accountability / efficiency and common sense in local government.

I've already signed up for a slot, but I can lump in with you guys

Seems like a bit of a conundrum that only residents should be allowed to speak, while someone who owns a business in the city limits is not allowed because they live elsewhere.

Same can be said for residents within the ETJ. "You can't speak at a council meeting, but we can make rules about what you can and can't do within the ETJ. Oh, we might annex you if we feel like it. But you can't speak about that either. Unless we annex you. Then you can speak at a council meeting. We won't listen, but you can speak."

Hypocrisy on display.

EliteElectric said:

---

Hornbeck said:

---

I think several of us should speak.
Brian Alg, Elite, me, Officer Fred, Jim Lewis… I could keep going but you guys get the picture. If enough of us speak, we won't out ourselves as bad.

---

I don't care about outing myself (obviously I post here under my business name lol) but I am not a CoCS citizen. I live in Bryan, however my business is in CoCS so technically I am a taxpayer.

I think people showing up and calling them out is a great idea and would probably help Mr. Yancy out greatly. I am down to show up for moral support but not being a resident IDK if I could speak.

If I could speak the questions I would ask would be-
1. Who had it out for Jim Lewis
2. What if anything were the relationships between those involved on the city level and the owners of Grand Station

Only logical reason I see for CoCS harpooning Jim on this deal is either personal or someone around the corner didn't want competition and friends at city hall protected them.

---

I wasn't going to comment on this particular thread, but I want to head something off at the pass, if I may.

I don't think anyone was trying to harm Jim Lewis. The owner of Grand Station had a similar thing happen to him. Both men were trying to acquire Macy's for a family entertainment center. The owner of Grand Station, who is a friend and golf buddy, had an initial offer fall through and was simply letting the listing sit awhile before making another run at it.

No, Macy's was acquired because there was an intense desire for a city rec center / YMCA. In their eyes, a complete redevelopment of the mall would've been optimal, with an esports AND a rec center in a whole scale mixed use rebuild. Failing that Macy's would work in a pinch as a stand-alone rec center perhaps.

I wouldn't be surprised if the California seller had a buddy call the city at the right moment and inquire about a storage unit use for it, thus setting off the hurried city purchase negotiation to "save" Macy's from a storage unit fate.

But Macy's was never going to be a storage facility. CBL had had that experience in another state and it hurt that property, so they never would've agreed to let it happen again. Recall that the REA requires unanimous consent of all tenants for a change in use from retail.

No, there's nothing nefarious here. Just a lack of business acumen and early due diligence.

Portions of the above are my opinion.

Respectfully & Transparently

Yancy

The email trail reads like a former city employee who is allegedly retired from the city did have it in for Jim Lewis, or at least the business plan he had for the location.

Doesn't matter what your opinion on that part of the matter is. We all read the emails that were posted.

I'm sure since this thread has been created, certain city employees have been directing their employees to do as much business in person or by phone and use email as little as possible there are fewer trails to follow.