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Tellin' It Like It Is

Jack Neely does an excellent job of detailing the complexities of planning for our region ["Blue Sky Dreaming," Vol. 10, No. 15]. His article helped show the ultimate contribution of the "Nine Counties, One Vision" process—getting people involved in their future.

As a lifelong Knoxville resident, I am accustomed to the overwhelming apathy found in these parts. While our fair city has suffered through poor growth strategies and never-ending political scandals, my fellow voters have done only one thing consistently—not raise their voice. This culminated with the whopping 18 percent turnout in the mayoral race, keeping our incumbent village idiot in office. Do not worry Bill Sansom, Jim Haslam and Co.—your interests are safe!

The local network of good ol' boys we have kept in city and county government for the past eternity has contributed to our most pressing problems. How? By promoting new suburban development anywhere, anytime over the sensible option of brownfield development. Because no one planned for or prioritized effective mass transit, our interstates have become supercrowded, ever-growing beasts. Sequoyah Hills can quickly dispose of those pesky cell-phone towers with a few calls; Fort Sanders has been torn from the inside out as hundreds have pleaded for it to be given a protected status.

As the halt of the absurd justice center plan has shown, if people stand up and let their leaders know how they feel—and how they'll vote if things don't change—public input does have a large impact in our region's future. That is why "Nine Counties, One Vision" is so key: It can promote populism and accountability in government.

Mike Petrone
Knoxville