No wonder he wanted to build schools!

Aug 2, 2004

Richard Thompson is the man who offered 200 million dollars last year to build 15 charter schools in Detroit. When there was an outcry against this attack on public schools, he took his money and went home.

How DOES he make his money, anyway? Through construction!

Thompson is a former owner or partner of several concrete and asphalt paving companies. He just recently got back into the concrete business, buying two companies.

Interestingly enough, this came right at the time that he began talks with Detroit Renaissance Inc., a council of Detroit area CEO's, trying to push his charter school proposal.

It's plain to see now what he hopes to gain by his "generous offer" to build those schools: first, he'd get a big tax break from his "donation"; and then he'd get the money back in construction contracts!