The wife of James Cargill II, a billionaire in America's fourth-wealthiest family, vowed to never invest in a "small-minded community" in Minnesota after locals asked about her plans following a multimillion-dollar home-buying spree.
Kathy Cargill first attracted attention after she bought 10 homes in Park Point, a neighborhood along the Lake Superior sandbar in Duluth, for $2 million last year. She later purchased an additional 10 properties in Park Point for a total of 20.
Following her home-buying spree, Cargill received backlash from locals who were worried about her unspoken plans for the properties-properties she allegedly called "pieces of crap," according to the New York Post. Local Mayor Roger Reinert also wrote a letter to Cargill inquiring about her plans for the 20 homes.
In response, Cargill slammed her neighbors as ingrates and vowed to never invest in the community.
"I think an expression that we all know-don't pee in your Cheerios-well, he kind of peed in his Cheerios right there, and definitely I'm not going to do anything to benefit that community," Cargill told The Wall Street Journal on the mayor's involvement.
"The good plans that I have down there for beautifying, updating and fixing up Park Point park or putting up that sports court, forget it. There's another community out there with more welcoming people than that small-minded community," she added.
Cargill also vowed to keep her specific plans for the now-bulldozed properties "even more private."
What Were Cargill's Plans for Park Point?
Cargill had said she planned on building homes for her relatives in the neighborhood. That was in addition to installing a coffee shop and courts, which she said are now out the window. It is, however, unclear if she still plans to move her relatives to Park Point, but she has said she is there to stay.
"Those people aren't running me out. They can posture themselves all they want, but I'm not going anywhere," she told the outlet.
Responding to Cargill's statement, Mayor Reinert said he was "more of a pancake guy" and posted a photo of a lone cake with butter and a strip of bacon to X, formerly Twitter.
