Save Hartford!!
SOS!!! We need help to save our mountains!
We are up against the biggest fight of our lifetime here in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee ~ a $2 Billion dollar development project has been privately in the works for Hartford, TN for several years. Located in Cocke County, there can be no doubt that the interests and ambitions of this massive project lie outside of respect or concern for the Appalachian culture, people, and ecosystems, as there have been no indications of the local community or the environment being seen as stakeholders in this project although it has been in the works for at least 5-7 years. Hartford is well known for whitewater rafting in the summer and for it's surrounding natural beauty with forests, trails, creeks - and lack of major human population – year round. Over the past 5-7 years Velocity has been privately planning without any public knowledge, buying significant property and independent rafting companies under multiple individual and llc names along the Pigeon River as well as around the forested areas of mountain bike trails that are being created through a federal public grant. While county officials are denying any involvement or knowledge, we have found extensive proof otherwise. Their plan clearly outlines a chilling narrative in full color. There will be no more Hartford, there will be no more Appalachian culture, there will be no more natural beauty and environment left if they are successful at their big city dreams in our corner of Appalachia, one of the last bastions of these mountains and its people not already destroyed by coal mining, mountain top removal, fracking and unchecked development.
We love growth and development, but we don't like the $2 billion dollar monopoly game - our county is for all of us. Now is the time for voices to join together in demanding transparency and action on part of both officials and investors, before the 1200+ acres already purchased by the developers become irreversibly destroyed by corruption, greed, and unsustainable practices.
This is not a rumor, this is not a test. This is a real fight to #savehartford. For more information or to show support, drop us a line at savehartford@gmail.com, follow us on facebook, and sign the petition to add your voice to the demand for transparency and accountability.
