City of Topeka "Elected" Council, It recently has come to my attention of a perspective buyer of the hotel, currently owned by each of you. Still trying to understand the WHY of this purchase. You represent the citizen's and were "ELECTED" and an oath to carry out duties for the greater good, such as adopting budget, ordinances, permit recommendations, and etc. Council member's represent their constituents interests before the town government. The EXTREME amount of money paid for purchase (well over appraised value), the consultant, the inspection costs etc. was not in the best interest nor what you needed or should have done. I don't believe any of you have the background of hotel hospitality whatsoever. I was given an opportunity to read over the information regarding Mr. Irshad Chatta's offer of buying the hotel. I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Chatta and he's a successful business owner and has the financial means and the knowledge to bring the hotel back to a burning bright light. Mr. Chatta has come from a strong background of family, who are business savvy. THIS is what Topeka needs and so much more!!!! I hope he's given an opportunity to SHINE his well thought out vision. So many businesses have left and many waiting on permits, traffic studies etc. Topeka hasn't thrived for many year's...it's become a very dark state. I don't believe citizen's have been allowed to be involved in their community for a very long time. We're just suppose to be OKAY and that's not OKAY. There's no EQUALITY across the board. Some get by and some don't. It's pretty easy to figure that one out without hiring a "consultant". It's really time that the "ELECTED" quit stifling growth and improvement. Quit CONTROLLING and start LISTENING and treat the citizen's as if we do MATTER. This thing of "hire a consultant" for almost everything says "Do ANY of you know how to do your job"? You should be leading by EXAMPLE. The public needs to be HEARD with dialogue...your ways aren't working except for your ELITE. Very disheartening and truly disgusting that MANY are given passes to pretty much do what's best for themselves. Clearly, there is the "pick and choose" mentality with the "pay to play". It's pretty obvious there is division, discrimination, abuse of power and etc. happening. Our population IS NOT GROWING...the ROADS ARE ATROCIOUS, BUILDING'S ARE DELIPADITAED, HOMELESS CRISIS HASN'T GOTTEN BETTER, MENTAL ILLNESS, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, TAXES ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH, NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CRIME ETC. Each of you are part of all those thing's continuing to occur. I use to like the circus, but I'm not enjoying this one. I already know WHO I'm not voting for and in hope's the citizen's are opening their eye's to this mess. Rhonda M. Underwood
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