This is Viewpoints for Friday, August 5, 2016

New entrance to mall

Once again the City Council of Centerville seems to have too much money to spend. First, an outrageously expensive plot of land for a park that is doubtful to ever happen; now, a new entrance to the Centerville Mall. Why do the mayor, the director of operations and some council members feel they need to subsidize Belk’s? I would chance a guess that Belk’s has more money than the city. That’s just a guess, of course.

The amount of money for that project could be spent on a person experienced in development. That person could actively pursue new tenants in the mall. It would be interesting for the mayor and council to publish the names of businesses that have declined to move here because of access. There seem to be many entrances and thousands of parking spaces. If indeed it is too hard to get into the mall, the person who feels that way probably shouldn’t be driving anyway.

Surely the city of Centerville can find a better way to spend the money that seems to be burning a hole in their pockets. If the whole story is fact, then it seems some council members can’t see the use of another entrance to the mall. I hope they can sort this out and find a more constructive way to spend money. It may be interesting to see the money trail on this coming debacle.

Different response

Two weeks ago I stood on the corner of First Street and Poplar Street to rally for Black Lives Matter. At the end of a week of rallying something interesting happened: our chants became a little more free. A woman with two black labs joined our group and we chanted “Black Labs Matter.” Someone took a photo of my husband (who is six-foot-eight-inches) and accidentally cut off his head in the photo, and so we shouted “Tall Lives Matter!” A policeman drove by, rolled down his window and waved, and we shouted, “Police Lives Matter!”

It felt so good to chant “Black Lives Matter.” We needed to say this, to shout it all weeklong. But even more than just shouting it, we needed to feel heard. We needed empathy. This is a lesson for our country. Instead of responding to Black Lives Matter with a harsh and competitive “All Lives Matter,” white America can offer empathy, and see where it goes.

DirecTV

Well DirecTV is at it again. Just haul off and add $49.95 to my monthly bill for NFL football Sunday package of which we knew nothing about and did not order. I call them up and they act as if we did order the package. After getting switched around to talk to several different people and emphatically telling them we didn’t, they finally agreed to drop the charge. And the hits just keep on coming. Beware.

Humble pie

It appears that Donald Trump took Hillary Clinton’s sucker bait and took a hit to the gut. He needs to sit back and analyze the situation before he responds. That was a neat bit of strategy on the Democrats part, putting the Islamic couple who had lost a son to a combat death on their Democratic convention stage before Hillary was to speak. Trump needs to control his mouth. I would advise him to have some humble pie and meet with that family.

No. 1 priority

As reported in news last week, crime statistics are rising in Warner Robins. Police Chief Brett Evans reported the need for more officers. In the 2013 mayoral debates, shortages in police personnel were discussed. This is a dire problem that has not just happened. A personnel shortage has been brewing over the years. This decline has gotten worse. Even our public swimming pools were closed this year due to a shortage of recreational staffing.

Warner Robins has a great police force and the hard-working men and women need to be commended. If the Police Department was fully staffed, would it be enough to effectively serve and protect our city at its present population? It is not only unfair to officers who choose our Police Department for their career but also for the citizens paying for their services.

Not only do we need more officers, there’s also a need to diversify. Is salary the problem? Officers are hired and trained only to move to other agencies and this is also a cost to our city. Whatever the problem, it needs corrected immediately! I’m of the belief, the issue with city personnel is greater than just the Police Department. The utmost important topic in our town should be public safety. We need to get our priorities straight in Warner Robins and move our city forward.

Useless, costly report

It is still the story on several TV stations that Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state was responsible for the Benghazi affair. Hillary is not my favorite person. If she were running for dog catcher I would not vote for her. However, fair is fair and right is right. As I have written before, as secretary of state, she did not have the authority nor, could the authority be delegated to her or anyone by the president of the United States of America. Only the commander in chief of the Armed Forces can call a stand down of American military forces. Recently, Congressman Trey Dowdy released a committee report on Benghazi. I printed a copy to see what it revealed. As I read the first line of the report, I was flabbergasted. Quote: The following facts are among the many new revelations in Part 1.

“Despite President Obama and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s clear orders to deploy military assets, nothing was sent to Benghazi, and nothing was en route to Libya at the time the last two Americans were killed almost eight hours after the attacks began. [pg. 141]”

To me, the quoted statement nullified the entire report. When the commander in chief tells American forces to move — they move. At least in my 20 years in the U. S. Air Force they did. To me, this quoted statement nullified the entire report. Congressman Dowdy and his committee wasted a year and a half and $7 million as has been reported. I will not read the rest of the report.

This story was originally published August 4, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Friday, August 5, 2016."