Toot'nTotem convenience stores owned by area wanna-be mogul Greg Mitchell and brother of Amarillo Mayor Debra McCartt, are teaming up to gouge consumers at the gas pumps. Toot'n Totem has been attempting to drive out all the competition in the area along with the noticeable protection from the mayors office. It's no secret to everyone who knows these two individuals that Mayor McCartt as protected her brother from any type of censuring or legal ramifications.
Of the competition that has already been run out of the area is nationally know 7-11 food stores Circle K and countless privately owned convenience and mom & pop corner stores.
Consumers and residents of this of 236,113 population center and 14th largest city in the state of Texas, were outraged when Greg Mitchell went on KGNC 710 radio in September 2005 and stated in regards to the rising gas prices that, "the people who criticize me are usually people who don't work hard enough to be successful." He later claimed to that he was misquoted, however several recordings of the show were made by listeners and these recordings confirmed the distasteful statements were actually made.
With over 59 stores in the Amarillo area, it is clear that Greg Mitchell has indeed monopolized the convenience and fuel needs in the entire area. Toot'n Totem will not comply with the needs of the area by lowering its gas prices and the organizations sponsored by Toot'n Totem are definitely not going top make any waves with the Mayors office or with Toot'n Totem, because of the stranglehold that the Mitchell family has on area organizations.
Their mission statement says it all " To maintain a position of leadership [unbridled control over the residents] and integrity [false honesty] in our community while insuring the future of our company [Mitchell and McCartt's pockets] through continued profitability [at the expense of Amarillo residents]." It's strange how the Gas prices drop several cents per gallon only 10 miles south in Canyon, which Mitchell is trying to dig his greedy hands into.
Most people who grew up in thsi are and know the Mitchell family all know the arrogance and greed associated with Greg Mitchell. Many who know this individual including most business owners an civic leaders in the area all agree that Mr. Mitchell is a only interested in two things, control and money. Mr Mitchell inherited Toot'n Totems and growing up was nothing more than a spoiled egotistical kid, which hasn't change in all the years.
Among the the organizations that Toot'n Totem sponsors and are being called to action against the Mitchell family are: Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, KACV, Boys Ranch, United Way, Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, WTAMU, Texas Tech, Childrens Miracle Network, Amarillo College, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, March of Dimes and AISD. Several of these organizations are extremely important and necessary in our area, and a boycott of these organizations, with a couple of unmentioned exceptions, would be devastating. We, the citizens of Amarillo and the surrounding area are calling upon these organizations to assist the residents and demand regulatory guidelines and control be placed upon Toot'n Totem as well as an immediate investigation into Greg Mitchell and Mayor McCartt's activities in their business practices. We need these organizations in our area and call for their assistance in putting a halt to the Mitchell family regime.
The following was sent via email and is being posted here by request.
I believe that it is time for Amarillo consumers to take a stand. I am sure that most have heard the fact that an over whelming majority of the pumps in Amarillo are owned by one company (TnT) [Toot'n Totem]. The people of Amarillo made that company what it is today, only to receive some of the highest gas prices in Texas in return as seen daily at www.texasgasprices.com . You should notice that it almost always seems this company is the 1st to raise prices and the last to lower. The rise and lack of power against the supplier forces competitors to follow. Amarillo consumers should make their next boycott to focus on the prices only related to Amarillo. Starting today I encourage all Amarillo consumers to only buy gas from the other retailers (Wal-Mart, Sams, Pak-a-Sak, United, etc.) and to do this through the summer. This will send a message to the owners of the majority stores as well as the supplier.
I travel down 287 almost monthly and without fail realize that 89 miles down the road the price of gas drops by as much as $.25 per gallon and remains there until my destination hundreds of miles away. I would think there would be more cost involved to get gas to a small town.
Am I the only one who thinks it is time to bring Greg Micthell down from his ''arrogant'' perch? Or do we willing let him to continually gouge the hell out of us?
If you support the boycott pass this e-mail to as many Amarillo people as possible and let's see if we can take some control over our local gas prices. |
