We all know (or at least anyone who's been paying attention from the beginning knows) that Brenda Whitaker has been the driving force in the downtown project. And that's why the Mayor appointed her the chairman of the downtown development committee. Part of his campaign platform was to revitalize that area. I'm sure he knew from the start that she would work tirelessly (and she has) on the project.
And yes everyone knows that Jonathan Ferry is the Economic Development Director. But what surprises me is that we sometimes forget (or perhaps don't know) that the Economic Development Director and the Mayor (only in the case of a tie) do not vote on the floor. So no matter how great the Mayor or his E.D.D is, if the right council members and committee chairmen are not in place nothing moves forward. The Economic Development Director can only take action after he is given direction from a committee. So we better make sure the right people are on the council.
For decades nothing happened downtown, now that it has, EVERYONE that has anything to do with this rebirth is up for re-election. And why? All for the sake of saving $24,00.00 a year. With the reduction of the council that's all we as a city are going to save.
Are we being penny wise and pound foolish?
It's too late to do anything about the reduction but it's not to late to make sure that the people who are making a difference stay on the council. I would hate to see the next two years for the Mayor be at a stand still because he doesn't have the support he needs from the council floor.
For the people who are upset that certain businesses aren't being recognized for being first, second, or third to come into downtown, it seems to me that in all of the articles that I've read the elected officials are speaking about businesses that are occupying the buildings that the city purchased for the redevelopment project, not business in other buildings.
But, I have also heard those same elected officials give credit to all of the businesses; those that have been here 40 plus years as well as the ones who came on their own in recent years I think it's wonderful that we have a mix of old and new business; it's something that I didn't think would ever happen.
So instead of ...who has done what, or who was first, we need to remember if we want this to continue it won't happen with out a strong downtown committee and that is Brenda Whitaker, Dan McDowell, and Jack Jenkins