After getting pounded for months by negative ads
criticizing his support for Obamacare and his statements on women’s issues, Democratic Senate candidate Gary Peters
has trotted out a story that makes his Republican opponent look
like a greedy landowner who evicted people for profit.
criticizing his support for Obamacare and his statements on women’s issues, Democratic Senate candidate Gary Peters
has trotted out a story that makes his Republican opponent look
like a greedy landowner who evicted people for profit.
Terri Lynn Land’s camp responded by calling the 50-second video a “scurrilous
mischaracterization of the facts.” But the Michigan Truth Squad, which fact-checks
campaign advertising, said today that the ad is true, if not a bit hyperbolic.
mischaracterization of the facts.” But the Michigan Truth Squad, which fact-checks
campaign advertising, said today that the ad is true, if not a bit hyperbolic.
The Peters spot begins by replaying a portion of Land’s
bio ad, which portrays her as a go-getter at a young age. But then the Democratic
congressman’s message takes over.
bio ad, which portrays her as a go-getter at a young age. But then the Democratic
congressman’s message takes over.
Here’s a portion of the audio:
“She grew up in a
trailer park and motel owned by her grandparents. Terri Lynn Land worked her
way up.
trailer park and motel owned by her grandparents. Terri Lynn Land worked her
way up.
“But that’s not the whole story. Years ago Terri Lynn
Land bought that property and evicted the 170 families living there – 170
families told to get out all so Terri Lynn Land could flip the property and
make a profit. That didn’t work out. Ms. Land bulldozed her childhood home and
it sits vacant to this day …”
Land bought that property and evicted the 170 families living there – 170
families told to get out all so Terri Lynn Land could flip the property and
make a profit. That didn’t work out. Ms. Land bulldozed her childhood home and
it sits vacant to this day …”
The Truth Squad, operated by the nonpartisan Center for
Michigan on its Bridge Magazine site, found that in 1995 the trailer park was
sold to a family-based entity, LaGrande, a company run by Land’s husband,
Daniel Hibma.
Michigan on its Bridge Magazine site, found that in 1995 the trailer park was
sold to a family-based entity, LaGrande, a company run by Land’s husband,
Daniel Hibma.
What happened a decade later is apparently common
knowledge in Grandville and the surrounding areas of western Michigan. In 2004,
while Land was serving as Michigan secretary of state, press reports indicated
that LaGrande issued notices to 171 families living in the park that they had
to get out. They were given a year to relocate.
knowledge in Grandville and the surrounding areas of western Michigan. In 2004,
while Land was serving as Michigan secretary of state, press reports indicated
that LaGrande issued notices to 171 families living in the park that they had
to get out. They were given a year to relocate.
The park population, according to one resident, included
the recently unemployed and those on fixed income or disability payments. The
company said eviction proceedings would begin June 30, 2005 for those who had
not moved out. It offered to pay moving expenses – estimated at $5,000 – for
those who moved within six months. One resident – who was raising her
7-year-old grandson – told The Grand Rapids Press, Land’s hometown paper: “When
you’re my age they say you’re in the golden years, but they’re looking pretty
rusty to me.”
the recently unemployed and those on fixed income or disability payments. The
company said eviction proceedings would begin June 30, 2005 for those who had
not moved out. It offered to pay moving expenses – estimated at $5,000 – for
those who moved within six months. One resident – who was raising her
7-year-old grandson – told The Grand Rapids Press, Land’s hometown paper: “When
you’re my age they say you’re in the golden years, but they’re looking pretty
rusty to me.”
Perhaps the most devastating part of this story, as the
ad points out, is that the park was bulldozed but LaGrande never managed to
complete a development deal or a sale. It remains vacant to this day.
ad points out, is that the park was bulldozed but LaGrande never managed to
complete a development deal or a sale. It remains vacant to this day.
The first question has to be, if this story was revealed
in various press accounts years ago, why would Land’s backers mention the
trailer park in the candidate’s bio ad? It was almost as if they were taunting
the Peters campaign, daring them to drag a skeleton out of Land’s closet.
in various press accounts years ago, why would Land’s backers mention the
trailer park in the candidate’s bio ad? It was almost as if they were taunting
the Peters campaign, daring them to drag a skeleton out of Land’s closet.
If it was an attempt at a pre-emptive move it surely failed. Even if no other damage is done, the Peters ad may force the Land camp to throw the bio ad in the trash.
There is one caveat in this potential mess for Land. The
Truth Squad took issue with the ad’s use of the word “eviction.”
Truth Squad took issue with the ad’s use of the word “eviction.”
Here’s what they said:
“The broad outline of what the ad alleges is true. The
trailer park where Land grew up was sold to a family interest that included
Land’s husband, Daniel Hibma. The company later gave residents of the park a year
to leave or face eviction, notice that left some scrambling to find housing
they could afford. In a strict legal sense, the company did not evict all 170
families. Many left within six months and received financial help to move. But
using ‘evict’ in its more colloquial sense, the company’s announcement did
force families to find another place to live.”
trailer park where Land grew up was sold to a family interest that included
Land’s husband, Daniel Hibma. The company later gave residents of the park a year
to leave or face eviction, notice that left some scrambling to find housing
they could afford. In a strict legal sense, the company did not evict all 170
families. Many left within six months and received financial help to move. But
using ‘evict’ in its more colloquial sense, the company’s announcement did
force families to find another place to live.”
So the BEST CASE scenario is that Terri Lynn Land and her husband showed poor business sense and grossly overestimated the development potential of the trailer park they bulldozed. Truly a RINGING endorsement of Land as a leader who understands business.
Really, A community making money off of rent and providing homes now a weed filled piece of shit making zilch. Yea, that's real smart.
& to be polite, a woman who does not give a crap about anything other than her own personal well being,
Land's business dealings need to be investigated. She and her husband owned several low class properties in Grandville/Wyoming.
So why am I comforted by the fact Terri Lynn Land is the product of a trailer park?
And a slum lord.
She's a shill for Devos and Koch. She doesn't make a move or utter a syllable without first checking with them. And now we find out her business dealings are shaky and disturbing. She is an extremist and is not good for Michigan. Vote Blue 2014 and elect Gary Peters. He will make decisions that will help the middle class and working poor and that will be good.
What about the the last minute lit drop and hand picked opposition that Land and her real estate mogul husband picked to defeat Republican Bill Hirsch, the well liked farmer in Gaines Township in 2012. It was all a last minute set up to defeat Hirsch, a sitting Kent County Commissioner because he supported the Farm Bureau's preservation of farm land, and the widespread support of philanthropist Peter Wege, the Steelcase heir, and others in this area. Hirsch worked with the best elements of West Michigan to help local farmers and the community. There is no need for urban sprawl everywhere at the expense of locally grown food. Farm Burea knows this so do the the local environmentalists. HIrsch never saw the big money, phoney candidate, vicious last minute attack coming. He lost. He is again running this year but not his former opponent. This says allot. The Land's seem ruthless behind the scenes. The Press needs to also see where all the fill for the Paul Henry freeway came from and the bidding process. There's dirt in them thar hills!
"Well liked" – That's rich. I'm guessing the homeowners that "Republican" Bill Hirsch verbally assaulted would see it differently.
And the Repukes are still harping on overturning the Affordable Care Act. Sheesh, Liberals quit bashing George W years ago. Get a clue, folks.
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