Who’s getting a slice of the pie?
Dear Editor:
Slice of the pie! Who is getting a slice of whose pie? A few weeks ago I was at a meeting where Heart and Soul representatives were putting on a presentation.
I walked away not feeling good about what was going on. This Vision 20-20 Heart and Soul business does not add up. Why would some rich people from back east by the name of Orton spend the kind of money they are spending here in the North Fork Valley and cities and counties across our nation? Reason tells me it is about more than telling stories, promoting local art and helping us to set goals for the future. Could Heart and Soul be a Trojan Horse? It makes me especially suspicious when they enter into public/private partnerships with our local town governments (DCI 12/21/2011). Such partnerships allow the private party to have undue influence over the elected law– or ordinance-making bodies. What do the Ortons want and why?
Some people in this valley find Bill Koch's presence disconcerting. His motives for being here are obvious. He is here to make money and enjoy our area. In the process he provides a lot of jobs and puts millions of dollars into our local economy. Through his companies he gives hundreds of thousands of dollars to local community organizations and causes with no strings attached. The Orton family (obviously also very wealthy) is putting money here with the apparent purpose of trying to influence our way of life and our future and they are going about it in a very suspicious manner with strings attached. Some people have said Bill Koch is getting tax deductions from his donations and thereby benefits from them. When the Orton family gives money to their private foundation, they too are receiving tax deductions and benefiting. I, for one, do not like what I see and I believe we should ALL be very wary of these people and what they are trying to do. I truly believe all is not as it has been made to appear.
Vic Ullrey
Paonia