Smith

Philip R. Klein mangles the real story behind the City of Beaumont's involvement with the L.L. Melton Family YMCA:

On Saturday - KBTV dropped a story regarding Smith and his meeting that he has called with church and political leaders regarding the LL Melton YMCA that is closing down after the recommendation of the Executive Director to the Board.

Now - there seems to be a big upset in the black community (not the West End) regarding the LL Melton YMCA - and city council member and candidate for Jefferson County Commissioners Court Jamie Smith drops his bomb shell saying he is lining up some big names in town and going to try and come to the rescue.

But what they are not saying is the agenda that is being pushed by the black community - which is? Well let's use government funds for either a take over of the YMCA system and call it a part of the Parks Department - or even inject money to keep the dead YMCA system alive?

Oh yes - GOVERNMENT FUNDS TO PULL A 501 C-3 Foundation out of the hole? Or at least keep it alive for a few more months? To save "30 Jobs."

Now there is some money on the table - being the "$20 million" dollars that the City of Beaumont is going to get from the big gas find in Beaumont. So far - no check. As well - the cut backs in the Beaumont Fire Department. No money from tax revenue's that are dropping like a rock in a bucket of water from citizen's moving out of Jefferson County - and thus the political set up.

Philip racially-biased account shows his typical ignorance of the real issues, which doesn't match the version from his cited source, KBTV Channel 4.

Councilman Smith says on Tuesday, the city council will also discuss the possibility of a claim against the Beaumont Metropolitan YMCA.

Smith says the city will consider trying to recover the money it invested in the new gym at the Melton.

Neither Philip Klein or Klein TV 4 mentioned that with the closing, the City of Beaumont is on the hook for a $1 million loan made nine years ago:

Ralph Muzzillo, immediate past chair of the YMCA's board of directors, said Thursday the Melton branch was a resource drain.

"The board did everything it could to help Melton, including the construction of a controversial gymnasium a few years ago," Muzzillo said, emphasizing his statements were his own opinion. "That gymnasium substantially increased the cost of operations at Melton at the expense of the Y as a whole."

Beaumont City Manager Kyle Hayes told The Enterprise in January that the city used $1 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development money to build the new gym at the Melton branch in 2001.

The city is about halfway into a 20-year schedule to pay back the money. If the Melton facility ceases being a YMCA, the city could take ownership and seek at least a partial repayment, Hayes has said.

To guarantee the loan, the City of Beaumont may have to foreclose on the property:

The city's south end representative says council is getting involved because it's a stakeholder in the property the Melton sits on and the community it serves.

Last month, the Beaumont YMCA announced that, due to a long-time lack of memberships and support from the south end community, it would only be open on Saturdays starting February 1st, but would maintain its programs at different locations.

Ward 4 Council member Jamie Smith says the change in operations isn't just a problem with the residents there, it's a problem with the lease agreement for the land between the Beaumont YMCA and the city.  However, the YMCA says a private organization's business shouldn't be a public problem.

And while Smith stopped short of saying what the city may do, he vowed it will do something.

"I think the majority of the council realizes this is a business decision," said Beaumont Metropolitan YMCA C.E.O, Jeff Moore, "They understand if you have a product and it's not selling, regardless of whose fault that is, that you have to make a business decision."

He added, "We are still within the parameters of our lease agreement, and if they feel we are breaking it, that's unfortunate."

Council member Smith says if the lease is, in fact, found to be breached, the city would be allowed to foreclose on the property.

More gibberish from a self-proclaimed political consultant.