Also Part Of The Problem: Property, Construction and Development.

Joseph Houston & Juanita Williams run two Bail Bonds companies with four locations - Liberty Bail Bonds and Express Bail Bonds. Three in Collier County and one in Lee County. Only the three locations in Collier County have ever been targeted. Why? It is probably safe to assume that it is because to enter the Lee County location, Collier County authorities would have to present probable cause to go outside their jurisdiction. If their probable cause was sufficient, they would have no problem barging into that location any time they felt like doing so. Mr Houston has had no legal problems at the Lee County location, or in any other counties that they have operated in since their business opened. So, with this knowledge, it is safe to say that the problem lies NOT with Mr Houston & Ms Williams' businesses, rather it lies with Collier County.

The problems began when Express Bail Bonds first opened their doors, and when the second location, Liberty Bail Bonds opened, the problems quickly spread over there. Liberty Bail Bonds is located outside the Naples Jail, at the Collier County Government Complex, and sits on the corner of Airport Road and US41. Mr Houston has owned the property for several years, and rents out the other two office suites that are part of the same building. When Mr Houston and Ms Williams first made an offer to buy the property, they were turned down -the property owner refused to sell it to them. When they went to view the property, which was an old Texaco gas station, Mr Houston noticed three bathrooms and asked the owner why there were three of them. The owner replied, "One for men, one for women, and one for blacks". After a lengthy struggle, they raised enough of their own finances to be able to pay for the property as they could not find a bank that would give them a loan. Because the owner of the property would not sell to them, they got the assistance of a white friend to represent them. As soon as they purchased the property, the first thing they wanted to do was tear down the three bathrooms. Eventually, the new building went up and Liberty Bail Bonds opened its doors in 1999. From the very beginning, people went out of their way to let it be known that they did not want them to be there. When the offices were built, the vacant suites sat empty for a long time, even though there was no lack of people interested in occupying the premises, they just refused to rent from African-Americans. Despite the animosity towards them, Mr Houston & Ms Williams grew to be very successful in the industry, which has only turned the animosity into a personal vendetta from those same people.

Now, the government complex is expanding, and annexes and additions are being built onto it. Some are already being constructed, by Kraft construction, who were awarded the (approx) $55-million project by the Collier County Commissioners. All but one of the Commissioners approved awarding the project to Kraft, even though no other bids were accepted from other construction companies.
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In a 2004 news article regarding building impact fees, you will find the following paraph:

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"Future buildings that could be constructed using a government building impact fee would include a new courthouse annex, a parking deck at the county's government complex, a sheriff's operation building, a new emergency operations center and a new building for fleet management."

A 2007 News article states the following:

"The county’s long-range plan currently calls for a new administration building at the existing government complex at the intersection of U.S. 41 East and Airport-Pulling Road. This new building would be constructed next to the existing administration building."
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There is not too much empty land left at the government center. The following photographs show Mr Houston's property boxed in by green construction fences, with the new courthouse annex being built behind it.

(YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE NEW COURTHOUSE ANNEX BY CLICKING HERE)

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Mr Houston has received offers to purchase this piece of property, one offer was for $2 million. He turned down the offer. Mr Houston & Ms Williams attended a public meeting held by the Board of County Commissioners to hear about the status of this development project. The meeting appeared to be cut short due to their presence, and recess was taken as this topic was up for discussion.
VIEW VIDEO OF MEETING BY CLICKING HERE (jump to item 5c once video opens)

We don't know what the entire set of plans include, but we know that Mr Houston owns a valuable piece of property that is obviously sitting in the way. Typically, when somebody wants to purchase property, what usually happens is that offers are made and then accepted or declined. This does not appear to be the case with Mr Houston's property. Surely it is not standard procedure to target a man, and portray him as a criminal, in an effort to force a sale just because somebody can't bear to pay Mr Houston more than they think he should have. Is it just Mr Houston that is having this problem? Or is this equal treatment, and just the way it is for everybody?

The location pictured above, which sits outside the jail house, is the same location where two men entered the premises and beat an employee to the point of unconsciousness. The two men were never found.
READ NEWS ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE