In recent years, Valdosta has begun calling itself A City Without Limits. The slogan is on the city Web site, water tanks throughout the community and official signage. But it seems that the original meaning and intent of the slogan has been lost in recent years as the city manager, mayor and elected officials have begun to consider themselves without limits as well. They consider themselves to have unlimited power and unlimited control over the community and all within it.
Consider the recent actions concerning Five Points. The newspaper at no time has argued that it is being used to its best potential. The Times is solely interested in informing the public about a transaction worth millions of their hard-earned tax dollars being funneled into questionable deals with questionable motives.
Five Points is an eyesore. But it’s been an eyesore for decades. So why now? Why does the city want that property so badly? Does it have more to do with the public good or the good of a private local developer who is currently building an upscale residential community on land it acquired very recently that just happens to be right next to Five Points?
And if the city wants the land so bad, why didn’t they pay the asking price? The land on the tax rolls is worth $5 million and the city offered $3 million. Considering several recent land purchases with the city’s involvement that have garnered property owners double or more than the tax rolls say their land was worth, why not pay the asking price for this piece, rather than try to take it instead?
And if the city’s actions are so altruistic, why have they never attended, not even asked to attend, a meeting of the Library’s Board of Directors to show them the proposal? Why wasn’t the money to build the proposed new library been included in the city’s plans?
And if the need for an auditorium is so great, why don’t the plans call for building one larger than the one the city already has? If the reasoning about needing a new venue is that the current building is inadequate, why haven’t the plans been drawn to build one larger to accommodate more events? Surely it can’t be because the auditorium and the library are being used as excuses to get the property?
And once the council votes this week to proceed with condemnation and enter into costly litigation with the land owners, this newspaper and everyone in this community will have lost their power to stop the machine. In Valdosta, it’s “go along to get along” or you’re an outcast.
You can’t fight City Hall. Or can you?
What We Think
What We Think: A city without limits
- What We Think
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Don’t jettison landmark
While we respect the request to relocate the F-86 aircraft from outside Mathis City Auditorium to the new Moody Air Force Base Airpark, we would hope the city and MAFB would reconsider moving it.
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Shame in Berrien County
Unfortunately for Sherrie Williams of the Berrien County school-based health clinic, she talked to The Times and praised the program that she oversees. This pride in her work led to the loss of her job.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
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Don’t jettison landmark
