Thee Citizens Suing Little Rock, North Little Rock Mayors
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Updated: January 25, 2013
Three private citizens are suing the mayors of Little Rock and North Little Rock, claiming the cities broke the law when those municipalities gave a combined total of close to $5 million to private corporations for economic development.
"It's my money, it's your money...it's everybody's public money. There shouldn't be a situation where we take public money and it just goes into the black hole and we're told: 'I'm sorry, we can't tell you what we did with the money,'" said Little Rock resident Jim Lynch, one of the three plaintiffs.
The lawsuit, filed in Pulaski County Circuit, says Little Rock has given $3.9 million to the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce over the years dating back to 1993.
It also states North Little Rock has given $250,000 a year to the North Little Rock Development Fund each year from 2009 through 2011.
Lynch and his co-plaintiffs contend there's no transparency or accountability since the Chamber and the Fund are not subject to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Little Rock Mayor Steve Stodola was in a meeting and could not be reached for comment.
North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith said he wasn't familiar enough with the lawsuit to comment but said he would have something to say on Monday after consulting with the city attorney.
"It's my money, it's your money...it's everybody's public money. There shouldn't be a situation where we take public money and it just goes into the black hole and we're told: 'I'm sorry, we can't tell you what we did with the money,'" said Little Rock resident Jim Lynch, one of the three plaintiffs.
The lawsuit, filed in Pulaski County Circuit, says Little Rock has given $3.9 million to the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce over the years dating back to 1993.
It also states North Little Rock has given $250,000 a year to the North Little Rock Development Fund each year from 2009 through 2011.
Lynch and his co-plaintiffs contend there's no transparency or accountability since the Chamber and the Fund are not subject to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Little Rock Mayor Steve Stodola was in a meeting and could not be reached for comment.
North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith said he wasn't familiar enough with the lawsuit to comment but said he would have something to say on Monday after consulting with the city attorney.
