Read on Twitter
I've looked into this for the last two days, as well as covered this situation extensively. Here's what I've found. https://twitter.com/lonestaragenda/status/1258985498632171520
It's true the GoFundMe was set up a day before she opened. However, it was known that she was going to open the following day. @InsideEdition broadcasted the previous night that she would open on the 24th: https://www.insideedition.com/coronavirus-news-recap-may-8-2020-trumps-valet-covid-19-positive-new-yorks-rat-issue-and-more-59241
Additionally, Shelley had made her financial troubles well-known in the news report and on Facebook as early as March 26th.
The group who created the GoFundMe, "Woke Patriots" appears to be facilitating groups across the country similar to the "Open Texas" group that has gotten so much traction: https://www.wokepatriots.com/groups-1
The head organizer, and the one who started the GoFundMe, Rick Hire, lives in Richmond, TX -- according to his GoFundMe profile. Richmond is down by Houston, not near Dallas where Shelley Luther lives.
Hire himself serves on the Keep Richmond Beautiful committee that "educate[s] and engage[s] citizens to take responsibility for improving and cleaning their community environment."
https://www.richmondtx.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/keep-richmond-beautiful-krb
https://www.richmondtx.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/keep-richmond-beautiful-krb
While this doesn't prove they didn't know each other beforehand, it casts serious doubt on the assumption made by Texas Monthly in their article, which is what the Quorum Report link you shared is referencing.
(You don't typically conspire w/ someone you aren't familiar with.)
(You don't typically conspire w/ someone you aren't familiar with.)
And what kind of conspiracy only benefits one of the parties involved?
Additionally, Hire and "Woke Patriots" are not only fundraising for Luther. They've said many times Shelley was just the first: https://twitter.com/rickhire/status/1259512944959713280?s=20
Another cause they just announced on their site:
- https://www.wokepatriots.com/post/ec-boyd-fund-new-cause
Another cause they just announced on their site:
- https://www.wokepatriots.com/post/ec-boyd-fund-new-cause
As for the claim in the article that Luther received a PPP loan, that is true -- something Luther disclosed in court. But this was long after the fund was launched and Shelley said in her court appearance that she was not informed it was coming.
This section in the TM article glosses over the fact that Luther was in court for the decision she made both ππππππ πππ ππππππππ
ππ πππππ πππ
ππππππ πππ πππ
ππππππππ
π·π·π· $$.
In fact, Shelley told me a couple days after reopening that she had not even heard back, let alone received funds, from any of the numerous loan programs in the time between her closing in March and her reopening on the 24th. https://thetexan.news/every-business-is-essential-dallas-salon-owner-defies-county-shelter-order/
Also, Luther has not hidden the fact that the decision was first about necessity, but turned into one about rights.
Agree w/ her assessment on the prospect of rights being violated or not, neither influence on her decision-making is disingenuous.
From my article w/ her:
Agree w/ her assessment on the prospect of rights being violated or not, neither influence on her decision-making is disingenuous.
From my article w/ her:
About her PPP loan, it is forgivable if 75% of it is used to pay employees. What the TM article leaves out is that many of Luther's employees opted to not return to work. Now, they of course can still receive the PPP money, as was intended.
But many businesses are having trouble with employees opting instead for the unemployment payments over the PPP wages in cases where the former outweighs the latter. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/many-small-businesses-say-loans-wont-get-them-to-rehire
Now, this is not the case for every employer, and it may or may not be the case for Luther. But it's context that was not only glossed over, but outright ignored by the TM article.
And it's an important dynamic in the decision-making process for every owner and employee.
And it's an important dynamic in the decision-making process for every owner and employee.
Also, employees are in precarious spots too as refusing the PPP wages can cause them to lose their unemployment. https://www.texastribune.org/2020/04/27/texas-abbott-reopen-unemployment/
But those who view this as a struggle between black & white factors ignore the fact that business owners and their employees are not always, or even usually, in contention with one another.
In most cases, they each care about the other's well-being. https://twitter.com/Connorsinvegas/status/1257431901503193098?s=20
In most cases, they each care about the other's well-being. https://twitter.com/Connorsinvegas/status/1257431901503193098?s=20
This would hold especially true for small businesses, like Luther's, where the owner is very familiar with their employees, and vice versa.
Overall, the TM article assumes so much and ignores so much more in context of the situation. There is no indication any of the parties involved were dishonest in their plights or intentions
-The GoFundMe was created a day before Luther opened
-Luther's money problems were not only well-documented by her, but by a national media outlet before she reopened
-Hire said he researched her and then decided to reach out about the GoFundMe
-Luther's money problems were not only well-documented by her, but by a national media outlet before she reopened
-Hire said he researched her and then decided to reach out about the GoFundMe
-Luther is not the only beneficiary of Hire's group
-Luther received PPP $$ after 6 weeks of, according to her, hearing nothing back about her requests
-Luther received PPP $$ after 6 weeks of, according to her, hearing nothing back about her requests
It is perfectly reasonable to disagree w/ Luther's actions but claiming it was a ruse from the beginning when there was zero indication in things turning out in her favor at the outset is a master-class in assuming worst intentions of your "opponent" -- especially in hindsight.
Luther has without a doubt come out on top, and especially so if the TXSC rules in her favor. But this was not a guaranteed outcome.
She faced a local judge determined to keep her closed, little indication she'd receive $$ help from the feds, state leadership that said the closure orders were both "neither vague nor unenforceable," thousands in legal costs, and the very real possibility of being sent to jail.
