Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I am disturbed by the way the local newspapers are covering the story of the Hickory Lakes proposed referendum. By featuring quotes only from the Buccilla family, it appears that the family is being targeted by the referendum group. I feel certain that the target of the referendum is the City of Pickerington. Why is no one from the ''referendum team'' willing to comment? Why is no one from the City of Pickerington willing to comment? The tone of the articles and of the quotes from the Buccilla family would indicate to the casual observer that the referendum is unfairly targeting the family. These articles are slanted to favor the real estate industry which provides most of the financial support to these local papers. By the way, I intend no disrespect to the Buccilla family, they are one set of victims of this fiasco and I can understand their frustrations.

City has handled badly...

I agree with your points on the coverage & have sympathy for the Buccilla family.

However, they sold land to a government which uses public money. That being the case, proper public hearings are not inappropriate to ask for. If it was strictly a business deal between two private parties that's another story.

I believe that Councilman Shaver & Councilwoman Riggs may not be opposed to the purchase of this land but wanted to make sure they were at the same time good stewards of the taxpayers money. Isn't that their job?



By Agree

Agree

You know the city isn't going to comment. According to Fox, the citizens don't know anything anyway, right? I don't think there was a whole lot of thought going into this. It could make a nice park for the city, but they have ulterior motives. I wonder if Joyce has an option on this land? How many people are employed by Parks and Recreation for the city?



By David

Agree 2

I was not suggesting in my original post that there is anything wrong with the request for the referendum or for citizens to question how and why this whole Hickory Lakes deal came about and what the future holds for this property. Not at all. I was just questioning the way it is being covered in the local papers. It looks like the referendum is against the Buccilla family themselves and the way the stories are written it implies that those who want the referendum are questioning the honesty and integrity of the family rather than the honesty and integrity of the City of Pickerington. I don't think this is the case at all, but again, anyone reading the story for the first time would probably get that impression and I think that is unfortunate and slanted.

By Violetmom (was Anonymous)