Citizen dialog for transparent process by the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange
Strategies for Lowndes County? —John S. Quarterman
My op-ed in the VDT today. -jsq
Our high schools and college graduates mostly have to go somewhere else, because jobs here are few and many of them don’t pay enough for a decent living. Should we not care enough about our families and our community to come up with strategies that grow existing businesses and attract new ones that will employ local people?
We need discussions and strategies that involve the whole community, going beyond just the usual planning professionals, to include all groups and individuals with information or opinions, whether they got here generations ago or last week: for fairness and for freedom.
The Industrial Authority focus group meeting I attended Wednesday was refreshing, because their consultants asked the opinions of people some of whom previously had to picket outside. The previous day, VLCIA Chairman Roy Copeland said this strategic planning process was a long time coming. I agree, and while nobody can say what will come of it at this point, I hope it does produce a real Economic Development Strategy.
James Wright convened sessions with diverse people from the entire community. Better opportunities on Valdosta’s south side would also mean less sprawl towards the few remaining local areas of agriculture and forestry.
As Lowndes County’s consultant Prof. Dorfman reported several years ago,
“Local governments must ensure balanced growth, as sprawling residential growth is a certain ticket to fiscal ruin* * Or at least big tax increases.”
In 2009 we also got record floods and overflowing wastewater treatment plants, and less well water. If we don’t care about conserving our local environment for ourselves and our descendants, who will?
else, because jobs here are few and many of them don’t pay enough for a decent living. Should we not care enough about our families and our community to come up with strategies that grow existing businesses and attract new ones that will employ local people?
going beyond just the usual planning professionals, to include all groups and individuals with information or opinions, whether they got here generations ago or last week: for fairness and for freedom.
How do we go beyond opposing things and move on to sustainable strategies that build clean industry?
of whom previously had to picket outside. The previous day, VLCIA Chairman Roy Copeland said this strategic planning process was a long time coming. I agree, and while nobody can say what will come of it at this point, I hope it does produce a real Economic Development Strategy.
James Wright convened sessions with diverse people from the entire community. Better opportunities on Valdosta’s south side would also mean less sprawl towards the few remaining local areas of agriculture and forestry.
As Lowndes County’s consultant Prof. Dorfman reported several years ago,
“Local governments must ensure balanced growth, as sprawling residential growth is a certain ticket to fiscal ruin*In 2009 we also got record floods and overflowing wastewater treatment plants, and less well water. If we don’t care about conserving our local environment for ourselves and our descendants, who will?
What else can we do, in health care, in education, in agriculture, with Moody AFB, with transportation, with solar energy, with fast Internet access, in sports, here in TitleTown?