Editor:

I read recently that the developer who has performed a “mountaintop removal” on the south side of Interstate 40 just east of Highway 66, for the purpose of siting a new shopping mall, has asked the City of Sevierville for financial help to build a road onto his barren manmade plateau after leaving the site in unreclaimed condition for more than a year now.

As a Sevier County resident I am strongly opposed to using any public money to bail out this developer.

To me, this seems like an extreme example of welfare for the rich, which is all the more obscene right now when there is scarcely any money available to help the really needy.

I can see no public benefit whatsoever to completing this project even if eventually some tenants are interested. Jobs could be created just as well, and the tax base expanded with much less expense, by redeveloping empty commercial space that has all of the needed structures and infrastructure already in place; I have seen quite a bit of seemingly quite viable empty commercial space around Sevier County.

Unfortunately, market conditions seem to be dictating few new retail outlet openings right now regardless of location.

I urge readers to contact their local officials to express opposition to any use of our tax money to cover the losses of an individual who made a risky venture and has left us a mess — money that could be used to improve our schools and similar purposes that do benefit the community.

Rick Brown

Sevierville