Speak no evil.... or else!

The latest missive from the soon-to-be defunct TSD Loreto, while praising its role in creating a smooth "transition" from their services to those of Beck International,
offers a verbal whack on the knuckles for anyone thinking of complaining via Internet blogs.

The same company that brought everything to a screeching halt is now saying we must not complain about what's taking place or we could jeopardize said smooth transition.

We've been hearing those calls for silence and patience since last January when we were first told of a possible buyer/s for the project. Home owners were cautioned that any negative publicity could adversely affect a sale. There's been no adverse publicity via home owner blogs and there's been no sale. We've been "mum" and there's been no progress. And now we're told to keep quiet or the "transition" will be affected.

Here's the relevant passage from the latest email we received from Mr. Bedsole: "Unfortunately, there is some inaccurate information being disseminated by various parties, including over Internet blogs. We will try to communicate with people who may be misinformed of the facts. However, as we do so, please understand that the only communication you should consider “official” is the information you receive directly from the Company (i.e., Loreto Bay News). We will not routinely monitor, respond to and/or verify information from other sources. Furthermore, for the sake of all homeowners we ask that all concerned parties refrain from making any allegations that are not based on information obtained from the Company, as misinformation can only delay our transition efforts."

Here's a news flash for Embree C. “Chuck” Bedsole, interim president of TSD Loreto (the front for Citigroup Propery Investors in this fiasco): Security through obscurity never works. It may work on your end, but it doesn't work for those who have the most invested - the home owners of Loreto Bay. The only way problems can be solved is through open discourse. And that's something that's been discouraged for as long as we've been involved in Loreto Bay.

No more. As I said in my last post, Citigroup walked away from this project leaving home owners, contractors and workers in limbo. But that's putting it mildly. What they did was leave workers unpaid, home owners with half-finished homes (or, in some cases, just dirt lots). There's also a question regarding escrow monies that were collected from home owners for utility construction, which was released to TSD Loreto before the work was done. We know this to be true in our case. We paid $6,500 into that escrow and we do not have utilities to our lot. They defaulted on payments, ceased construction and left everyone on the ground holding the bag. And for that they deserve our silence and acquiescence?

In a nutshell, what's happened is that Citigroup/TSD Loreto has washed its hands of this project. It's been the home owners and Beck International (in the person of Stan Barton and his able staff) who have resurrected Loreto Bay. Good for us and good for Loreto Bay.

George and I still believe our home will be finished. Not through the efforts of those who were charged with making this project a reality, but through the hard work and dedication of others. Not TSD Loreto.