“The Town,” the Rise, Fall, & Redevelopment of Mammoth Lakes, CA | Part IV “The Reckoning”

“Scheezus Christ.  Fuck.  Somebody should get their asses kicked.  Some should get beat up.  Somebody should get shot for what they’ve done to our community.” – Steve Searles, Mammoth Lakes Wildlife Officer – “The Bear Whisperer”

Part IV of Powder Magazine’s “The Town” shows just how badly Mammoth Lakes gets screwed in the end.  They owe $48 million plus interest to the developer Ballas.  They’ll pay $2 million per year for the next 23 years.  For the next 23 years, Mammoth is screwed…

Read full article and watch Part IV of “The Town” right here:

Part IV “The Reckoning”

The verdict struck a nerve with residents. Some felt the jury, culled from outside of Mammoth Lakes, sought to punish the posh ski town with its verdict. Others blamed the Town’s legal defense team for not calling the proper witnesses.

The Town appealed the decision to the California Court of Appeal. In June of 2010, the court affirmed the verdict. 

The Town pushed all the way to California’s Supreme Court. In March 2011, the Town was told its appeal was denied. More troubling, interest had been accruing on the Town’s judgment, and now exceeded $42 million. 

The Town and Ballas made unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a settlement, while each side pointed fingers at the other.

By the summer of 2012, the Town Council had run out of options. – Powder Magazine

Read full article and watch Part IV of “The Town” right here:

Part IV “The Reckoning”