Posted on 12/03/2014 10:55:30 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
Long a local government watchdog and critic, conservative activist Orville Seymer is now asking the federal government to help him sort out his money troubles.
Seymer -- a top official with Citizens for Responsible Government -- filed for bankruptcy last month, listing $147,126 in assets and more than $1 million in liabilities. He is seeking Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, which stops all legal actions and could allow him to write off many of his debts.
Seymer is pinning much of the blame for his financial woes on City Hall, saying he has been targeted by city building inspectors for speaking out against local officials.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's administration is dismissing his complaints.
"His allegation that we are political hacks, for lack of a better word, has no credibility in my mind," said Art Dahlberg, head of the Department of Neighborhood Services.
In an interview, Seymer called the bankruptcy filing "embarrassing" but pointed the finger at "bad tenants and the city of Milwaukee" as the two primary causes for his current hardship.
Seymer, 61, owns seven rental properties in the Milwaukee area through his company ODS Properties. Dahlberg's agency has cited his buildings over the years for numerous code violations, many of which ended up in court.
"With all due respect, DNS is a blatant political organization whose mission is to punish those people who make any attempt to stand up against it," Seymer said via email. "Because I stuck my neck out a few years ago, I am still getting punished for speaking out against them. That punishment continues today."
Seymer said he was once told by a city inspector that he was under pressure from "higher-ups and City Hall" to ding the conservative critic.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Conservative activist blames bankruptcy on Milwaukee City officials.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, thhis Wisconsin interest ping list.
Conservative activist blames bankruptcy on Milwaukee City officials.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, thhis Wisconsin interest ping list.
You better be rich if you fight criminals in City Hall.
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