Posted Jun 1, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Anyone can form and express an opinion. I personally, give more credence to those opinions based on experience and research of facts. I invite the writer to come to Town Council Meetings, to review online documents, audio and video files online at myvaresources.com. A line or two in one newspaper article and a self-reported biography, tells you little of how a person functions during the day to day business of managing a town. For a full view of how well any one has functioned in office, you need to look at all decision that have been made. After all, several hundred shots with only one bullseye doesn't tell ya much. Every Town Council and Planning Commission member should be evaluated on the basis of ALL their decisions, recommendations, and votes, not just one. The person may come to the same conclusion, but you'll never know unless you look.
Posted Jun 1, 2009 at 10:54 PM
OK, but what do YOU think about Wade? You just talked about the letter writer and linked the story without saying.
The blog was about someone who doesn't live in the Town of Christiansburg making observations based on very, very limited data. Some say council has historically done this too often. It is good when citizens attend meetings and listen to the rationale behind the votes, when provided. Visit the official web site, read background information provided and review the now approved budget. Readers will also see this budget was balanced not just by dipping into reserves, but also a one-time bequeath to the town in the amount of $500,000 (plus tax revenues based on past years' projections, which weren't reflective of economic concerns that have been percolating for the past 3-5 years as seen in state budget crisis and funding levels to localities). The town budget also doesn't show where existing allocations were trimmed any nor has there been council discussion of whether the aquatic center's business plan is realistic. So the thrust wasn't geared to any individual council member, rather the process which included discussions from three Finance Committee meetings and single budget work session. Readers can use whatever information they choose to obtain and digest, and form their own opinions about council actions.
Posted Jun 2, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Like Steven Colbert says, we are a nation of "poorly informed, yet highly opinionated."