Elliott_Davis's Blog

I've heard of sticking to the script before, but the head of the St. Louis Development Corporation - which is St. Louis City's development agency - gave it new meaning.

The investigation was into SLDC'S decision to out-bid a private developer and buy the old MSD headquarters for $2.4 million dollars. They're going to let the land sit, in hopes another developer will come along and buy it. Hello. Why go through all that when a private developer had already offered MSD $2.1 million for the property?

When I tried to question Director Rodney Crim, his response was, "Didn't you receive our written statement?" He said the same thing time and again. The one big problem - the statement didn't answer my questions.

I should have known I'd run into something like that. I spent a month trying to catch him.

Even camping out in the parking lot. The p.r. lady told me he wouldn't talk on camera to me.

As I've said in the past, why is it that officials are anxious to talk when it's something to make them look good, but it's hard to get them on camera on a questionable deal?

I should think they would have thought out all aspects of a $2.4 million dollar deal in advance and be able to ask any question.

Any of you who saw the story could see how strange it looked. Here I am standing right in front of him asking him questions and he keeps saying, "Did you get my written statement?" And even telling me at one point I must not have understood what was written.

It's always easiest to just answer the questions. But then again that would be too much like right.

But we'll stay on it ... After all, You Paid For It!

Elliott Davis