I love to read editorials. Part of the reason I started this blog was to respond to the often absurd editorials that the newspaper decides to print every day.
Read today's HERE
HS discussion is still happening, even though its not headlining every media facet. After Peter's nailed his own coffin with the call for a referendum, my question is would a referendum work? To me a referendum is the lazy way for an opponent of HS to speak out, rather than show up to the public hearings and other forums. It allows the misinformed, uninformed, and the stubborn to oppose the project without valid reason, discussion, or even knowing anything about the project.
When it came to the public forums, the people that actually cared (pro/oppose) showed up. Now, I do believe that the ratios at these forums were not accurate - it would be foolish to believe for every person that spoke for and against the project that there were equal representation out in the community. But, it is so easy to oppose something without knowing any facts, and its even easier to refuse to look at the project with an open mind after hearing all the misconceptions and 'negatives'.
Is it wrong to think that a referendum is pointless because it is impossible to get some people to even consider the idea that HS might be a good investment?
9 comments:
Same song and dance with these editorials; typical FW response to change. There are some in this community who pounce on any attempt to improve the quality of life in our city. Whether it be protesting the FW Community Schools improvement, or organizing a remonstrance against expanding the downtown library, the resistance to improving our community goes on.
I’ve had the opportunity to live in quite a few places outside of IN, and I’ve never seen a community so fearful of change as this one. I hope, for the sake of our city, we as a community will continue to push forward in spite of the doubt that continues to surface.
“My tax money needs to go to fixing potholes, painting lines on the streets, neighborhood code enforcement, police, fire, and any number of improvements that are needed to enhance the quality of life in Fort Wayne.”
These expenses would be FAR less if we stopped letting “the developers, the real-estate brokers, the building contractors, [and] the politicians” develop wherever they feel is most profitable to them. It always seemed to me that the most “conservative” people would want to promote density and social consolidation to lessen the astronomical costs of building and repairing the vast amounts of streets, sewers, etc. that suburbia has presented us. At its fundamental core, HS gives Fort Wayne a point of reference where a city can begin to re-concentrate itself.
All these are very good comments. What astonishes me is how Fort Wayne had such a successful past and when did the people change and become so intolerant ?
DaveC
Dare I say this david but Fort Wayne in its past was by percentage much more educated in those days standards than it is today. The rise of manufacturing in the 50's and beyond at what were and still are absurd wages for labor jobs didn't require people to further their education to make a good living. Pair that with the low cost of living in Ft Wayne and you have a recipe that makes it less compelling to get advanced education.
The one thing I've always disliked about this town is how spread out it is.
The suburbs won't last forever (I hope), and I wouldn't be sorry to see them go.
I agree, michaelk
Horrible planning by the county.
I'm not sure of Republicans or Democrats were in control, but they did a horrible job with planning in the suburbs.
As far as Fort Wayne retail expansion goes, Barney and Tom Neizer and Barry Sturges are among the culprits.
Do people think that "the county" actually designs private development? What are we talking about here?
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