230 Years Old - Time to Grow Up

In response to an article in the 'Ville Voice titled "Today’s Ridiculous Charge from the Southside Crusader"

 

I've been keeping tabs on the construction plans for the bomb storage facility in South Louisville. A necessary evil, yet what has the local constituents riled is that the mayor wants to locate the facility atop the city's main water supply at Cardinal Hill. According to the mayor and other officials, there is absolutely no risk in locating the facility there. Tabling the safety discussion for the time being, I'd like to address another side of the issue - transparency.

We arrive at yet another issue where, irregardless of the right or wrong of the topic, those who govern Louisville obscure and obfuscate. We want so desperately to be that progressive city of business, commerce and culture, yet it seems that every week we find out that our leaders take it on themselves to “slide something through”.

If public hearings are held, we're told that the decisions have already been made and there's no point in discussions. From the awarding of demolition contracts for the new arena to the construction of bomb storage facilities, the building of bridges to the desire of the community for something other than freeways across our great waterfront parks (86/64), the philosophy of, “Just shut-up and let us make the decisions” seems to reign.

I don’t know whether the bomb disposal facility has any risk or not. That's not the point. Letting citizens feel that they are a part of the process is.

Listening to the will of the people is definitely less efficient. I know, Mayor Abramson, that you have a lot to do and a short time to get things done. I'm a big fan of yours and was part of the movement to get you back into office. When you are open with your constituents and allow them into the process, then we end up with a city that all of us are a part of, that we all helped to build. The city becomes more than just the place we hang our hats.

I just know that too many projects in this town are handled under the table. Time to grow up Louisville. It’s 2008.

Transparancy is in.

 

In the words of one of my heroes, that's just my own opinion. If you don't like it, sue me. Just don't try to slide it under my table.