I have been chatting with a bunch of folks of various levels of influencene in the state on NJ tonight. I want to report a theory presented to me tonight by someone who's name must remain anononomous. He is a well know NJ politician. So - - -
So, why bring this up? Well, his opinion on the RT, CC situation is unusual and needs to have some "daylight." He has been very quiet on this. He does not want to have his public position to be known yet does not have any problem with a general discussion of his theories. Since he does have a very interesting theory about the situation at hand that is at odds with my own theory, I want to share it with everyone in the interest of objectivity.
Here is the essence of this man's theory: (btw - - - you would all know who he is, but I can not reveal his name for obvious reaons, as you shall see)
Point 1: Ireland is in Bed with Agilent / Hewlett Packard
Point 2: Christ Church and Agilent / Hewlett Packard both know the degree of polution on that property (superfund level).
Point 3: Ireland and Agilent are in bed with one another to have our town take this property by Eminent Domain.
Point 4: Hmmmmm, makes me look like a fool, but so be it in the interest of objectivity
Point 5: Why is this all happening? Two answers are appropriate via our chat.
Reason 1: Agilent has an impossible problem of unloading a contaminated property. They would love for us to purchase it under the law of eminent domain so that they are absolved of all responsibility for its contamination.
Reason 2: Christ Church has no intention of ultimately purchasing this property. They are in ca-hoots with Agilent to pretend to want to buy it.
Contra-Indication 1: I am wrong about my assessment of the situation about Eminent Domain since these guys are using us as pawns in their game.
Contra-Indiacation2: CC is in a Win - Win situation; the reason for this is simply that if the sale does not go through, he has a RLUIPA and a race based Civil Rights based lawsuit available to him against the town. The simplification of this theory, is simple - - - - he does not have to get his church, he just needs a reason to sue us.
Contra-Indication 3: Agilent / Hewlett Packards site is an open case. Please see a previous post of mine to have the specific details regarding the same. It is OPEN!
Theory: Ireland and Agilent are in cahoots to force us to do what I have been recommending - - - purchase by Eminent Domain!!
That would then take the heat off of the owner of the property to deal with the environmental problem. We would own it if we do ED.
HMMMMMM. Got me thinking~ I am open to all thoughts. Did anyone else think of this angle?? Just curious.
ps. the person that I spoke with tonight is no small fry!!
Personally, I think your source is off base. An approach as described may have been a passing thought for an eventual fallback but I doubt it. When a property is sold, full disclosure has to be made regarding any pollution. If its found to be understated or omitted, the original owner can still be held responsible years after the sale, even after going through multiple owners. In this case it is already documented. Either the cost of remediation would be deducted from the purchase price, even under ED, or the previous owner would be reqd to remediate prior to closing the deal. It would be too much of a hot potato any other way. RT has done some stupid things in the past, but I dont think they would do that. I dont know the details of the pollution, but apparently its not a threat unless the ground is futher disturbed or Agilent would be forced to remediate now, particularly with the wells and ground water situation. So the property still has great value, if used as is. I think Ireland really wants his compound. I read his ego as wanting to be the biggest in NJ. I dont believe that its been a scam all along, although certain aspects of it may be quickly becomming one as we progress. Also dont forget that very reliable sources have informed us (me personally) that CC is paying Agilent a regular stipend to help offset taxes and keep the deal alive. In addition, the contract actually makes the sale price at $12M cash and a $2M letter of Charitable donation to Agilent for a writeoff. So I think its been the real deal. They may not have expected the extent of difficulties they now find themselves in, and may be looking at the best way out or considering Plan B now, but I think they are basically for real.
None of these observations make sense. If Agilent wanted the township to take the property, they would just hand it over to us, the county or the state. I could be wrong, but I don't think the environmental issues are so bad, that the cleanup exceeds the value of the property.
Also, Ireland has no other hidden agenda, gut to grow his business as large as possible at 140 GPR. I do agree though that there are some backroom deals going on with CC and Agilent.
Please let me know who this politcal figure is, so I make sure I don't vote for him.
I have the same gut reaction to this theory, but I thought that I would pass it along anyway and let everyone make up their own minds. It just does not sound that plausible.
ps, - I have also spoken to some other folks in town who have mentioned the two back room deals that are going on that Chuck wrote about. Although that little kickback scheme may be legal, it certainly get close to crossing the line and these two parties are pretty sleezy if that is the case. But, it is really no surprise.
