Editor’s Note: We simply forgot to run this yesterday. Apologies are offered to those who feel the need for an apology.
The children’s song goes like this: “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands…”
Well, the song does not say what to do if you are not happy, but it seems that some members of the Henderson City Council want us to keep our opinions to ourselves and clap our hands even when we are not happy. Their solution for fixing the problems in Henderson is to stop being negative.
If you go to the doctor and she tells you that you have high blood pressure and you need to cut out salt and change your diet, she is not being negative. She is telling you what the problem is and that you need to get to work on the solution if you want to be healthy.
If you go to a conference with your child’s teacher and he tells you your child is sleepy in class and is too involved in video games, he is not being negative, but telling you of a problem that needs a remedy if you want a successful child.
If you call the electrician because your lights are blinking and they tell you that a squirrel has chewed through your wires and you need a major re-wiring to keep your house from burning to the ground…that also is not being negative, but is a forewarning of trouble that can be prevented with corrective action.
Do you suppose that some of our council members believe that making pretty and putting a good face on our problems is a good fix? Do they believe that ignoring the problems will make them go away? Or do they believe that the city government, which belongs to us, is not really our concern and we should not comment?
When we say that unfair taxation is preventing us from having a safer and healthier city, that is not being negative, it is being truthful. And, the council needs to do something positive and end this unfair and discriminatory taxation.
When we say that sewage is bubbling up in the street and the stench is horrible and that water lines are breaking all over town, that is not being negative. It is being truthful. And, the council needs to do something positive to correct this.
When we say that the city wastes money on engineers for projects that are years out, but fails to have an engineer on staff to advise and oversee, that is not being negative, it is being truthful. The Council needs to do something positive and put this safeguard into place.
When we say that the city does not take care of its historic properties such as the Armory, the First National Bank Building, and Fire Station One, that is not being negative. It is being truthful. And the Council needs to do something positive and protect these investments.
When we say that the city decides to sell property that is a wonderful natural resource without researching its value nor marketing it the most advantageous way for the most money, that is not being negative. It is being truthful. The Council needs to do something positive and establish guidelines to prevent this.
When we say that the city does not use its resources to our best economic advantage, such as buying another building for City Hall instead of utilizing the Operations Center, that is not being negative. It is being truthful. The council needs to do something positive and find multiple uses for our resources to save us money.
When we say that the city does not use long range strategic planning, but sets priorities such as applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for an auditorium or voting to support a water line to Kittrell, that is not being negative. It is being truthful. The Council should do something positive and use citizen committees for CDBG selection and listen to the public before adopting the Land Use Plan.
When we say that our city is not as clean as it could be, and our streets are in terrible shape with pot holes, and the street lights are out, and graffiti is everywhere, that is not being negative. It is being truthful. The council should insist in a positive way that management look for and correct this poor image of our city.
When we say that the blight in many of our neighborhoods is a prime reason that the city is not developing economically, that is not being negative. That is being truthful. The council should be positive and demand that municipal housing codes be followed and enforced.
When we say that the city should not have a conflict of interest and appoint council members to the Zoning Board, that is not being negative. That is being truthful. And the Council should be positive and end this practice.
When we say that the city should not accept a contract for waste management unless there are three bids with full disclosures, that is not being negative. That is being truthful. And the council should be positive and follow the bidding laws to the letter and disclose all facts.
When we say that the city should listen to the citizens and provide for them what they cannot provide for themselves in terms of police and fire protection, that is not being negative. That is being truthful. The council should be positive and put their money where their mouth is in paying the people who provide these services a fair wage.
When we say that the city could better and far more economically collect taxes, foreclose on properties, enforce minimum housing, and follow open meeting laws with a full-time attorney who cannot have clients who compete with the city, that is not being negative. It is being truthful. And the city could be positive and save money and provide better services to its citizens by correcting this.
It is up to the council to make positive changes. It is the responsibility of citizens to address their government with their concerns and seek remedies and determine if results are lacking. This is what democracy is all about. That is not being negative. That is being a good citizens. Blaming the public and their perception for the council’s lack of results is weak and ineffectual leadership. When the council makes positive changes, then we will happily clap our hands.