News Summary

On Thursday, June 5, the Stay Inside the Fence Committee delivered 2,069 Middletown voter signatures for a referendum petition drive to the city of Middletown to overturn the May 6 legislative decision to rezone the Martin farmland to industrial (use). The next day, The Journal reported that the city announced it would re-do the process and start over from the beginning, thereby avoiding the cost of a lawsuit battle pending in the courts on the same issue. Although the city stated that they did nothing wrong in the re-zoning process, they willingly decided to re-do it. When was the last time the city has re-done legislation immediately after it was passed?

So, if they truly had followed the proper legal process in the re-zoning of this land, why are they afraid to answer questions in court regarding it? Moreover, if it was truly such an "emergency" (the way in which it was passed originally), what makes it not an emergency now that they are willing to re-do the entire process? And lastly, did our submission of petitions a few hours before they made the announcement to re-do the process impact their decision?

Do they not want to run the risk of the people having their say about this critical rezoning? And why are they now mentioning amending the zoning code? Did the city know from the beginning that this coke plant didn't fit on that land to begin with? Do the elect few want to control the direction of the city and ignore the voice of the people?

Why are there so many unanswered questions? Keeping the legislation "on the books" undermines the true spirit of re-doing this legislation. It feels deceptive when they say they want to "re-do" the zoning, but are still keeping the original one "on the books."

Perhaps they forgot there is still a pending lawsuit to which they need to respond. We are still awaiting validation from the city and county Board of Elections as to if we received enough signatures to make it on the fall ballot. But one thing is clear — after circulating petitions and collecting more than 2,000 signatures in one week, it is clear that the people want to have a say in issues that affect their lives. As long as elected officials continue to represent only one segment of the community (or one business), our system has failed.

Lisa Frye

Middletown

'Real change'

If there is one phrase we have all heard again and again these past few months, it's been the word "change." Not only has it come to define more than the well-worn adage "out with the old and in with the new," but it has taken on a whole new meaning in the context of our nation's current presidential campaign ... Voters will often hear their candidates proclaim "a vote for me is a vote for change." Generally the voter doesn't really believe it ...

However, what's different this time is that the word "change" has also come to represent the first real opportunity for a white woman and a black man to compete for the highest office in the land.

Now that this is finally happening, you have to wonder why this has not happened before. The reason is because it requires real change ... the kind that requires a whole nation of individuals to change together.

... Change is one of the hardest things for any of us to do. We all know the expression that "nothing stays the same" but when we look back at the history of opportunity in this country, sadly what "stayed the same" for much too long was discrimination based upon our gender or the color of our skin.

... Change became reality when the majority of the citizens in our nation decided they did not want to continue with how things had been in the past and required their political representatives to take action.

... Positive change can only come by working together to bring down the barriers that separate those of different culture, race and gender; it should not be seen as anything but the normal and necessary evolution of a society, which only comes when we and those around us are ready for it.

I have often complained to my contemporaries that the greatest barrier to our country's collective greatness is the consequence of the status quo. When we look back on the events and accomplishments, which have brought us to this moment in our history, what we have achieved did not come from those who stood in the way of change, but by those who welcomed it.

We as a people stand at the brink of this historical presidential election, regardless of whom you support; we must not forget how far we have come since the days when opportunity tainted by prejudice was limited to only the few. No one is ever again going to question can a black man "have a dream" to lead our nation or whether it is possible for a woman to be "tough enough to serve" as commander in chief. In a society where perception is everything, everything has changed.

Merrell Wood

Middletown

'Who was selected?'

The Franklin High School Hall of Fame members have been chosen for 2008. Who is in charge of publicity for the Franklin High School Hall of Fame?

The only publicity is on Channel 18 and that comes into view once an hour, for seconds.

Who was selected?

Where and when will the event take place — day, time and cost would help.

To the person in charge of publicity, you have not done a very good job!

Lou Kaczmarek

Franklin