Yesterday Greg Atoms posted on the KEEL website a column titled "New Plan for Shreveport's GM Plant Has Elio Stink."
As a member of the media, I respect the right of Atoms and any media person to post their opinions. Lord knows, I do that on a regular basis.
But I do expect members of the media to at least know the facts before they form their opinions, much less publicized them.
Atoms did not let the facts on the GM plant interfere with his biased blast.
Maybe Atoms was pressed to make a deadline for a website posting.
Maybe he placed deposits for a thousand Elio cars and lost his money.
Maybe he was a former GM worker and is still unhappy about the closing of the plant.
Maybe Atoms does not think he should know the facts before publishing.
Stuart Lichter's company IRG has a long-term lease with an option to buy the GM plant.
Lichter subleases tenants at the GM plant.
Lichter executed a lease to Elio Motors.
Lichter lost money when the Elio dream crashed.
Lichter pays rent to Caddo Parish, the owner of the plant.
Lichter's total rent paid at year end will exceed the sum the Parish paid for the plant.
Lichter also pays for the maintenance of the facility.
Tenants at the GM plant have made substantial improvements to the properties.
Atoms claim of a "stink" is not factually supported, unless he is referring to his butt.
Geez...this posting is an abbreviation for the norm for KEEL, and an unfortunate one.
And yes, I realize that this column will end my days as occasionally being interviewed and/or co-hosting on KEEL.