Political Scientists

Jim Anderson is a man of his word. He always does what he says and says what he does. He also feels that all men should do the same. Jim is the funds manager at BVT Private Equity. He is currently working on a series of large private equity projects. One project he is particularly focused on is the series of apartment buildings on Elm Street. Jim’s plan is to rebuild all of the housing and offer clean, affordable living facilities for the community.

Roy Jacobs is a businessman with ties to a company called MPC Capital. Roy is a man out for himself. He will say and do whatever it takes to make a profit. Roy would sell his grandmother if he could draw a big enough profit. He has had his eye on a row of apartment buildings over on Elm Street. It is his intention to buy up all of the property and tear down all of the apartment building. He thinks Elm Street would be the perfect place for a new strip mall.

Jim set out on his way to work one morning. As he drove down Elm Street, he noticed a little red Mazda Miata park out on the street. There was a man in khaki pants and a red button up walking around chatting on a cell phone. Jim pulled off to the side on the road and approached the gentleman as he was ending his phone call.

Roy told Jim that he was seeking to buy this land and build a strip mall to attract more business and opportunity to the people of the community. Jim explained to the man that this was community property associated with private equity and he could not just buy the property. Selling of the property would have to go through the proper series of channels and the town board would have to reach a vote to sell the property. Jim told Roy of how he would have to campaign and talk to the people of the community. It would be a long drawn out process, a waste of his time. Besides, Jim was planning to petition for the property himself in order to build community housing.

Roy wasted no time before wheeling, dealing, and greasing the pocket of each member of the town board. By the time the vote came to pass, Roy had the board so buttered up he knew things were going to go his way. Just as politics always work with large private equity projects, Roy got the property.

The apartment buildings were demolished and replaced with a strip mall filled with 15 stores and restaurants as well as a movie theatre. However, the community around Elm Street was not exactly booming. The members of this community could not spend the money to go to the movies all of the time, besides it was a community of primarily elderly individuals who seldom leave their homes. The movie theatre was the first business to go. With a Domino’s just around the corner, Little Nicky’s Pizzeria was the next to go. Then Yo Mamma’s Yogurt and Hanna’s Hallmark. Handyhand’s Hardware was no competition for the Home Depot four blocks over. One by one, the businesses closed until there was nothing left at the strip mall. Roy Jacobs lost millions.

The property was put back on the market and with little competition Jim purchased the property. He made a few minor changes to the structure and turned it into an affordable assisted living facility for the people of the community. Jim made millions.