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| Subject: Crony Statism: Corrupt Westfield mayor pushed for Grand Junction Plaza project. His two sons profited from the deal. Thu Jul 11, 2019 11:08 pm | |
| About the time Westfield Mayor Andy Cook launched a task group in 2007 to study how to redevelop downtown, his two sons bought property that would later become part of the Grand Junction Plaza project. A decade later the brothers sold the one-story, three-bedroom house at 217 Union St. to the city for $255,000, nearly double what they paid. The return on investment, which was similar to what other property owners received from the city, eclipsed the average rise in property values. Ethics experts interviewed by IndyStar said the situation raises a number of red flags, including the timing of the purchase and Andy Cook's role in advocating for a development that ultimately would financially benefit his sons. Poised to break ground this summer, the Grand Junction Plaza has long been criticized for its $35 million price tag and what some critics see as the city's lack of transparency surrounding the project.
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/westfield/2019/07/11/westfield-purchased-property-westfield-mayor-andy-cook-sons-grand-junction-plaza/1260118001/
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