A Man is only as good as his word...and every word these guys say is suspect.

In the grand scheme of things, I'm sure there are more reasons than not to consider the future land use of Lancaster to be positive. In fact, many might believe that the next proposed development at Bear Creek is going to be the saving grace that Lancaster needs to take it to that next level. How long has the city been calling for the proverbial "bar" to be raised? The problem is that the proposed and the implemented always seem to be two different things when you're talking about the owners of that property. Very few can argue the point that Tommy has cultivated a name for himself as a liar and a cheat among all that have dealt with him. Proven by the statements made by one Lancaster resident during the review of The Preserve by city counsel in December. I was woefully silent as a small framed, meek woman approached the podium and proceeded to explain a scenario where Tommy stood in the woman's living room and proclaimed that he had bought property from her neighbor in order to facilitate the purchase of her home! The problem? He hadn't bought the property, and the neighbor had no intention of selling! This and countless other examples reinforce peoples disdain for the man and everything he represents. Don't even get me started on if he follows through with his financial commitments! How many candidates have awaited his financial support, only to find that he was nowhere to be found when it came time for a check to be written? How many promises have been leveled at Lancaster's Educational Foundation, Business Center, and various charities that haven't been kept. In fact, are there any in Lancaster that can honestly say that this guy or his "partners" have followed through with their commitments to the city or the people therein? I think not and why should they? It's not like history has taught us that these are "stand-up guys" that follow through with anything! Take the widely publicized events concerning one of Tommy's most trusted companions. Is it any wonder that the City of Lancaster keeps both hands on their wallets when dealing with this guy? Having sued the City, he promptly comes back and asks for them to approve a development riddled with issues, as demonstrated by several protesting citizens last month. His representatives (shamefully me being one of them) begged for the city to trust that the development would be a good thing for the area, and that the developer would follow through with his commitments. Unfortunately for Lancaster Bluegrove, L.P., their association with Mr. Topletz meant their association with Mr. Topletz's past actions. For example... The Hank Haney Incident. Can anyone doubt that the plan that's presented by these guys, no matter what it is, won't be what it ends up being? I think not!