State Rep. Sara Cambensy (D-Marquette) released the following statement Friday afternoon in response to a letter from the Veridea Group that was issued earlier in the day.
In that letter, the developer said it was offended by Cambensy’s earlier suggestion that there conflicts of interest and possible illegalities in Veridea’s deal to redevelop the old Marquette General Hospital campus. Cambensy had asked Attorney General Dana Nessel to investigate, and in the following statement, she reiterated that request, especially in light of $8 million of state tax dollars going to that redevelopment. Cambensy has questioned that expenditure.
Veridea Group says there was nothing improper with the arrangement, which sees the Northern Michigan University Foundation work with Veridea group to redevelop that old hospital.
Cambensy’s response is posted below, unedited.
“While I appreciate Veridea being willing to give a statement to the public regarding their views on my letter to Honorable Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, I believe the AG’s office will handle the investigation fairly based on the questions that were asked.
The attorney general is the lawyer for the State of Michigan and when public legal matters arise, they render their opinion on matters of law. They also provide legal counsel for the legislature, and every state legislative office is allowed to ask the AG for opinions on behalf of their constituents.
My questions to the AG concern the use of state and local taxpayer funds, the public’s right to view those documents or methods of communication that elected or appointed members to those public offices or boards have used in making their decisions, and whether the people elected or appointed to the public bodies involved used their public position for personal financial gain.
It is disappointing that Veridea Group and Marquette City Commissioner Jenn Hill have released statements that allege personal attacks against myself, my office, and my intentions for simply asking questions about this project on behalf of my constituents as their state representative.
The CEO of Veridea and Commissioner Hill are both public officials. The public has serious concerns about the transparency and details surrounding this project, as well as every person who voted to approve different parts of this project that either allocated or used public tax dollars.
They have the right to get those questions answered, especially when their own property taxes were just raised by the Marquette City Commission.
If you are willing to be an appointed or elected public official on behalf of the taxpayers of the state of Michigan or choose to utilize publicly funded taxpayer programs like brownfields, or work with charitable arms of public universities as a private entity, the public has every right to question your decision making and involvement, what connections you have to the groups involved, and whether or not you have received any financial gain from your actions and votes as a public servant.
The actions, votes, and financial contributions accepted by elected or appointed public officials will always be questioned by the taxpayers, including my own as a state representative, as they rightfully should be. “
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