Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2016 23:40:28 -0500
From: virginia penley
Subject: Behind what doors?
This afternoon I received a copy of the latest fear mongering drivel from Pittsboro Matters, Inc.
I say drivel, because it is more propaganda and untruth than an actual exercise designed to factually inform the community.
I suspect that the letter I received in the mail last month to give money to their organization followed by today’s online inflammatory offering is due to their desperate need for funds for their never ending lawsuits and attorney fees.
Some of the leaders of the group obviously hope that these divisive communications will raise funds to pay for their lawyers and appellate court fees.
This all smacks of an obsession or fixation with process devoid of any discussion of good public policy that eventually becomes implemented for the good of the community at large.
Of course how these obsessions reconcile with the stated purpose of their entity as filed with the State of North Carolina is up for debate.
What is not debatable is that Pittsboro Matters did in fact represent to the State that they were created for charitable and educational purposes to assist peoples living in Chatham County and the Town of Pittsboro in the preservation of the local economy, environment and culture of their community.
Since Pittsboro Matters, Inc. and its leaders continue to lobby on behalf of their personal financial interests as would be the case of its chair, Amanda Robertson concerning her recent property purchase, and against what they are permitted to do by the State and Internal Revenue Service, I wonder how they face the community with a straight face.
Of course it helps to publish fear based propaganda that is designed to hold the base without addressing public policy goals truthfully or without a smeared lens.
From what I can gather, IRS Section 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from supporting political candidates, and are subject to limits on lobbying <https://en.wikipedia.org/
From where I grew up this is called dealing from the bottom of the deck.
Pittsboro Matters, Inc. filed a 1023-EZ with the IRS specifically stating that they would not be spending a substantial amount of their time engaged in activities that furthered exempt purposes.
Essentially they are prohibited from interfering with legislative outcomes and yet that seems to be their purpose by dint of their actions.
Since that is the case I think the community deserves to know who they are communicating with, for what purpose and who funds their organization. Lets open ALL the doors.
I suspect that if we were to get a full reveal from the officers of Pittsboro Matters the community would bear witness to a web like series communications that perhaps cross the line of political coordination, legislative advocacy and lobbying.