The Village at River’s Edge – a government-subsidized affordable housing boondoggle featuring Columbia, S.C. mayor Steve Benjamin as one of its key partners – will be sold at auction next month after being foreclosed upon this week.
The official foreclosure and sale notice – posted to little fanfare in The Columbia (S.C.) Star – is the latest chapter in a costly and as-yet-fully-explained scandal involving Columbia’s corrupt leader.
Back when he was running for mayor of Columbia, S.C. in 2010 (on the buzzword of “transparency”), Benjamin told the press that he had sold his interest in the project. In fact Benjamin bragged to The (Columbia, S.C.) Free Times that he “left seven figures on the table” in selling his piece of the action to developer Jonathan N. Pinson for roughly $500,000.
Really? If Benjamin sold, though, why is he still listed as one of the defendants in the foreclosure notice?
The Village at River’s Edge received at least $7.8 million in federal “stimulus” money and millions more in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (USHUD). Columbia, S.C. taxpayers are also shelling out money for the project thanks to Benjamin’s – who sold the plan to city council back in 2006.
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64 comments
He did leave seven figures on the table. All borowed from the bank. You should see that development on Google Earth. Who in the hell would have wanted to move there and get their house broken into on a weekely basis?
They’re already getting their pockets picked daily…
He did leave seven figures on the table. All borowed from the bank. You should see that development on Google Earth. Who in the hell would have wanted to move there and get their house broken into on a weekly basis?
They’re already getting their pockets picked daily…
The question is was he “required” to sell. I don’t know enough about Cola politics to say. It does seem though that you would be ineligible if your running or are in office and your company/partnership is receiving public funds from the department you lead/run. That’s pretty standard, right? Can someone confirm. That’s a crime if so.
You are correct and was a crime yet nothing was done about it….well not yet.
The question is was he “required” to sell. I don’t know enough about Cola politics to say. It does seem though that you would be ineligible if your running or are in office and your company/partnership is receiving public funds from the department you lead/run. That’s pretty standard, right? Can someone confirm. That’s a crime if so.
You are correct and was a crime yet nothing was done about it….well not yet.
Looks like T-Bone got a leg up on his cousin Ford
While Ford was wasting his money on butt beads, pecker pills and bopping his baloney to pron videos, T-Bone was scurring around like a cockroach on speed packing away the Benjamin’s in designer alligator tote bags
Looks like T-Bone got a leg up on his cousin Ford
While Ford was wasting his money on butt beads, pecker pills and bopping his baloney to pron videos, T-Bone was scurring around like a cockroach on speed packing away the Benjamin’s in designer alligator tote bags
“Really? If Benjamin sold, though, why is he still listed as one of the defendants in the foreclosure notice?”
Actually, I think there is an explanation for that. He sold his share of ownership, but the loan itself is still in his name. So he’s on the hook when it defaults (defaulted?).
Don’t get me wrong, though, I’ve been slamming this whole deal for years. Especially when it got a bunch of HUD money shortly before a loan payment was due.
Why is there a 400K judgement on the old Exotica property against both Raj and Ajit Randhawa in Orangeburg County? Didn’t they sell the property to Life Cathedral Ministries for a half million? Now owned by SCBT. Also why was the foreclosure against the Sikh temple cancelled in Rich. cty a few months ago? Gurudwara Nanaksar.
Marie: Perhaps Simran burned the proper incense, and blew the smoke in the right direction…
Using Simran’s thought process….if you call in an exterminator to your house,is that murder?
raj and ajit sold property for 500,000, but they
took a 100,000 second mortgage for part
payment and gauranteed the loan of purchaser.
“Really? If Benjamin sold, though, why is he still listed as one of the defendants in the foreclosure notice?”
Actually, I think there is an explanation for that. He sold his share of ownership, but the loan itself is still in his name. So he’s on the hook when it defaults (defaulted?).
Don’t get me wrong, though, I’ve been slamming this whole deal for years. Especially when it got a bunch of HUD money shortly before a loan payment was due.
Why is there a 400K judgement on the old Exotica property against both Raj and Ajit Randhawa in Orangeburg County? Didn’t they sell the property to Life Cathedral Ministries for a half million? Now owned by SCBT. Also why was the foreclosure against the Sikh temple cancelled in Rich. cty a few months ago? Gurudwara Nanaksar.
Marie: Perhaps Simran burned the proper incense, and blew the smoke in the right direction…
Using Simran’s thought process….if you call in an exterminator to your house,is that murder?
raj and ajit sold property for 500,000, but they
took a 100,000 second mortgage for part
payment and gauranteed the loan of purchaser.
you can have 0% equity in a venture but still be a guarantor on a note. banks will never let a person off, regardless if he/she has no equity interest.
Foks hasn’t got a clue about how the private sector works.
Refer him to the Temple for advice, they know what to do…
you can have 0% equity in a venture but still be a guarantor on a note. banks will never let a person off, regardless if he/she has no equity interest.
Foks hasn’t got a clue about how the private sector works.
Refer him to the Temple for advice, they know what to do…
So: Benjamin is King for Life…nothing would ever happen, no matter what he does. He’s like Obama, Hillary and Holder…
They have immunity…because they are not elected or placed based on merit, charatcer or leadership abilities.
“because they are not elected or placed based on merit, charatcer or leadership abilities.”
So, they were elected on what? affirmative action?
1) Obama Cheated (see Melouise Richardson,) I bet there are millions of her.
2) Their voters voted based on hate and liberal myths. Not truth and reality.
3) Yes: Affimative Action did put Holder and Hillary where they are. They are corrupt and incompetent individiulals. W/o AA, they’d be unemployed because they are worthless, based on merit.
T-bone has the Richland County Election Commission so rigged, there’s virtually NO way to get him out of office. One of the many ongoing investigations into his corrupt way of life will have to lead to an arrest in order for him to be forced out.
These Ass Clowns need to be removed from office.
and be replaced with Republican ass clowns? Both parties are filled with self-serving people who wish to make their mark on South Carolina for purposes of their ego, and to hopefully get rich by expanding their sphere of influence.
I think the state needs to move to 2-party government but before that, we need to dump millions of gallons of Clorox on everything and sanitize it. Maybe people
If you SC is corrupt, just read history. Ben Tillman killed an editor of The State journalist in the late 1800’s and after the case was moved to a rural county, he was found not guilty.
SC is a good old boy place. But I think this is true of every state.
These Ass Clowns need to be removed from office.
and be replaced with Republican ass clowns? Both parties are filled with self-serving people who wish to make their mark on South Carolina for purposes of their ego, and to hopefully get rich by expanding their sphere of influence.
I think the state needs to move to 2-party government but before that, we need to dump millions of gallons of Clorox on everything and sanitize it. Maybe people
If you SC is corrupt, just read history. Ben Tillman killed an editor of The State journalist in the late 1800’s and after the case was moved to a rural county, he was found not guilty.
SC is a good old boy place. But I think this is true of every state.
He like Obama is immune!
Damn! He’s black!! Thanks!
He like Obama is immune!
Damn! He’s black!! Thanks!
The Mayor cleared 500-Large and left the Partnership with millions in Debt. If the lawyers are swift and smart, they will have a case against hizzoner, Pinson, The Partnership, the persons in the Partnership, The City of Columbia, HUD, FHA (as an actuating agent of HUD), and any and ALL persons owing the Partnership outstanding money.
The Mayor cleared 500-Large and left the Partnership with millions in Debt. If the lawyers are swift and smart, they will have a case against hizzoner, Pinson, The Partnership, the persons in the Partnership, The City of Columbia, HUD, FHA (as an actuating agent of HUD), and any and ALL persons owing the Partnership outstanding money.
You want to tell what a leader’s people think of him?
Take a look in the background of the picture above. These are people that Benjamin selected to stand behind him.
What do you see?
I see men with looks of disinterest, derision, and disbelief.
There must be some sort of protocol when a politician or CEO is in a photo-op with common folk in the background, that the common folk have to stand with their hands gripped in front of their junk.
Reminds me of defenders lining up in front of the goal on a penalty kick.
You want to tell what a leader’s people think of him?
Take a look in the background of the picture above. These are people that Benjamin selected to stand behind him.
What do you see?
I see men with looks of disinterest, derision, and disbelief.
There must be some sort of protocol when a politician or CEO is in a photo-op with common folk in the background, that the common folk have to stand with their hands gripped in front of their junk.
Reminds me of defenders lining up in front of the goal on a penalty kick.
benjamin is a financial wizard, the city just sold the old
damons rib building to the usc alumni assn for 1m,they
paid 3.8m for the property in 2008
benjamin is a financial wizard, the city just sold the old
damons rib building to the usc alumni assn for 1m,they
paid 3.8m for the property in 2008
Is there a more cannibalistic race than blacks? I doubt it.
The modern day version of cannibalism being the poverty pimps that feast/profit on their own race’s misery in the name of “helping” them, ultimately partially responsible for their ongoing plight.
Instead of giving them jobs, they’d rather tax everyone else and give them homes and food.
Just like Benjamin, Ford, Clyburn, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the rest.
How can you not be a self hating black at times given their leadership?
Is there a more cannibalistic race than blacks? I doubt it.
The modern day version of cannibalism being the poverty pimps that feast/profit on their own race’s misery in the name of “helping” them, ultimately partially responsible for their ongoing plight.
Instead of giving them jobs, they’d rather tax everyone else and give them homes and food.
Just like Benjamin, Ford, Clyburn, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the rest.
How can you not be a self hating black at times given their leadership?
Jonathan N. Pinson
Same dude that was indited by the Feds in SC State’s most recent corruption scandal?
Jonathan N. Pinson
Same dude that was indited by the Feds in SC State’s most recent corruption scandal?
He is an example of ANOTHER INCOMPETENT african-american that we have in a leadership role in Columbia. This city is a shithole and it all starts with the lack of vision and leadership from the top officials combined with their corruption. These people aren’t interested in the well-being of Columbia. They want these positions so that they can use their power to line their pockets in any way possible. They sad thing is that everything that they touch turns to shit. Can you please cite ONE (1) and only ONE (1) where a black person left a position in better shape than it was before they took over? I cannot recall one.
The whites had their “Boss Tweeds” by the scores or more throughout the nation for a century-plus. Then the pallid daises ran shrieking to the suburbs in white flight. Now they gripe that black voters hold sway in many of the cities.
It all comes around. But take heart, white conservatives still hold the reins in smaller cities and towns, say like Lexington, South Congaree, Pelion, Swansea. Personally, I wouldn’t be all that proud there.
He is an example of ANOTHER INCOMPETENT african-american that we have in a leadership role in Columbia. This city is a shithole and it all starts with the lack of vision and leadership from the top officials combined with their corruption. These people aren’t interested in the well-being of Columbia. They want these positions so that they can use their power to line their pockets in any way possible. They sad thing is that everything that they touch turns to shit. Can you please cite ONE (1) and only ONE (1) where a black person left a position in better shape than it was before they took over? I cannot recall one.
The whites had their “Boss Tweeds” by the scores or more throughout the nation for a century-plus. Then the pallid daises ran shrieking to the suburbs in white flight. Now they gripe that black voters hold sway in many of the cities.
It all comes around. But take heart, white conservatives still hold the reins in smaller cities and towns, say like Lexington, South Congaree, Pelion, Swansea. Personally, I wouldn’t be all that proud there.
Will, if you or I had critically injured someone in a 5:00AM car accident we would have been administered a DUI test and asked to give a blood sample, and if found drunk our asses would have been hauled to Alvin C. Glenn. It’s sad that the ruling elite live by different rules and rights in Columbia and throughout the rest of South Carolina. At the least, a DUI test should have been administered to mayor-elect Benjamin.
It is time for Steve Benjamin and the political crony elites at all levels of government to leave office. Robert Ford’s resignation shows there is hope, but now we need to force Nikki, Bobby, Steve, and all the other entitled politicians out.
A good place to start would be a citizen’s revolt for term limits from City Hall to the Statehouse. Clean House!
Will, if you or I had critically injured someone in a 5:00AM car accident we would have been administered a DUI test and asked to give a blood sample, and if found drunk our asses would have been hauled to Alvin C. Glenn. It’s sad that the ruling elite live by different rules and rights in Columbia and throughout the rest of South Carolina. At the least, a DUI test should have been administered to mayor-elect Benjamin.
It is time for Steve Benjamin and the political crony elites at all levels of government to leave office. Robert Ford’s resignation shows there is hope, but now we need to force Nikki, Bobby, Steve, and all the other entitled politicians out.
A good place to start would be a citizen’s revolt for term limits from City Hall to the Statehouse. Clean House!
Lets not forget that Jonathan P. Pinson was just indicted for all the corruptness at SC State University with the purchase of land and promised a Porche……
Lets not forget that Jonathan P. Pinson was just indicted for all the corruptness at SC State University with the purchase of land and promised a Porche……
Hey jilted dumbass1. I can think of a black man that left something better off than it was when he got there. MICHAEL STEELE! He left your dumbass party in better shape than it had been in decades and got fired for it by a bunch of dumbass racists like you. Then you re-elect the white boy that lost every race. Brilliant.
Hey jilted dumbass1. I can think of a black man that left something better off than it was when he got there. MICHAEL STEELE! He left your dumbass party in better shape than it had been in decades and got fired for it by a bunch of dumbass racists like you. Then you re-elect the white boy that lost every race. Brilliant.
build high-rise expensive residential that only certain demographics can afford. This will over time build a population density to offset the current voting base. Then you will see a different looking municipal government.
However, by then the Chinese will be calling the shots.
build high-rise expensive residential that only certain demographics can afford. This will over time build a population density to offset the current voting base. Then you will see a different looking municipal government.
However, by then the Chinese will be calling the shots.