Let ‘em eat dinner
Fear and Loathing in Waynesboro column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Fear and Loathing is bigger than one person. I’ve been coming to realize this lately, but it hit home last night with a phone call about who was seen eating dinner with whom at a local restaurant.
“Frank, Tim and Bruce are at Ciro’s,” I was told, and I immediately thought of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and how I should be all up in arms because three members of an elected governing body were together and could ostensibly be discussing city business and God-knows-what-else.
Part of me wishes that I’d run down the hill and across the street to pop my head into the Ciro’s to say hi, but the bigger part of me, the more mature part, I could say, doesn’t see the issue that you can be free to debate me, and I expect that some will when I say this.
Let ‘em eat dinner together. Even if it would make more sense for them to get together at one of their homes where spies couldn’t call up the media watchdog without staking out their homes 24-7. And even if they are talking city business.
I know, I know. They can come to consensus on issues without public scrutiny. And what, we don’t think this kind of thing goes on anyway? The times in Waynesboro have us in this situation where two rival factions are jockeying for control of city government. I’m well-aware of this. Remember, I got caught in this whirlwind during the election. Personally, I don’t think it’s good at all that we have effectively reduced the representation on our city council from five to two, with one of the two holding all the cards. But we’re here now, the cards have been dealt, and the hand will play itself out for the next four years.
Would we be better off if we didn’t have factions fighting for control of city government to advance what even the diehards on both sides of the political aisle could concede are purely political aims on each of their parts? Yes, of course. Can we ever get back to a political climate in Waynesboro where we have more in the way of diversity in viewpoints represented on the city council? Again, yeah, of course. I don’t see it happening anytime soon, and I’m not just talking about the next elections in two or four years, but it can happen.
And maybe Fear and Loathing can help make it happen. Somebody has to represent the people in this fight, and based on the responses of our volunteers, most recently our friend at Ciro’s, it looks like we’re in this one together.
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I agree, what’s the big deal? Frank was just telling Tim and Bruce what their positions are!
Chris whoever called you about frank tim and bruce having dinner together is a liar and you are wrong to print lies. frank lucente
Frank, you miss the point of the column. I was raising issue with the idea that this kind of thing is even important to bring up. And hey, I was actually defending you.
I do thank you for writing to correct the record. And welcome you to participate in our forums more often. There’s a lot going on in our city these days, and this forum has become the top sounding board in Waynesboro for the dissemination of a diversity of opinion on where things need to be headed. Your views are always welcome here.
Tim did not spend our wedding anniversary having dinner with Bruce and Frank.
Lana
The City is growing at an ever increasing rate ! The majority of aspirants hoping to serve on the Council are also engaged in making a living. The time available to dedicate to the expanding number of problems facing the Council is stretched thinner every day! Since serving the City is primarily a volunteer activity: hasty decisions can be problem fraught! Perhaps it is an appropriate time to consider increasing the number of Council members to 7 to alleviate or resolve the increasing number problems . Ii’s worth considering.
Not a bad idea, Lin. The amount of time that individual council members can commit to the job can be quite strained, you’re right. And nearby, Staunton has a city council with seven members, and it is roughly the same size as Waynesboro. Food for thought there, definitely.
And I still say that those serving should be able to eat dinner with whomever they please.