Ever think of asking the public?
Jesse Mayshark wrote an article in Citybeat Nov. 30 entitled, "Central Concerns—With Coster Shop redevelopment looming, the city reevaluates one of its oldest commercial strips." My reply is "My Concerns—Is business going to be the same old, same old or are we going to change?"
Will the city's study continue to mean that the city administration will hire a consultant to come up with a plan; a hearing (maybe) will be held to tell you what we are going to do for or to you; it will go before City Council, where the public will get five minutes; there will be shouting and gnashing of teeth, and we can all sit around and talk about those againers? Or are we going to change and make the city's study include public participation from the get go?
We may even be surprised what we might find out. One thing I think we could guarantee is that we would get a better plan with more "buy in" with public participation.
Let's hope we don't have to wait three years and twenty-some days before we see some change.
Jim Ullrich
Knoxville
A biased critic's pointed points
After reading Eye on the Scene (Dec. 7) I dropped the rag to click out my point of view. You need to know my bias is a mile wide.
Since the 1970s Ashley Capps has been providing listeners with the best and most influential variety of music via public radio this region has ever heard. His Friday night show, "Unhinged," was the benchmark for eclectic, aural taste in the vacuum of programmed airwaves. He was already out there before the catch phrase "alternative" radio joined the lexicon. The fact that he has single-handedly brought the best live music to East Tennessee and Western North Carolina needs to be applauded. If A.C. can make a buck and save a landmark, then the public owes him a standing ovation!
The next half of my bias has to be how spectacular the programming from WNCW has always been. It is the primary button in my car and home. I feel it is the best station of all time. Based on the several stellar stations I have had the privilege to catch, WNCW stands out as a true jewel.
If these two entities can combine to provide exceptional American entertainment, highlight the music, the bands, the station, the people, and the purpose, then we should congratulate their efforts. The critics need to spend less time looking through the regulations and more time in front of the speakers.
Steven Klyce
Knoxville
School Board Can Do As It Pleases
This is in response to your "Insights" article of Dec. 7 in which you stated that the Knox County Commission had given the Knox County Board of Education its "blessings to revert to its politicized ways" when the [school] board decided to exclude the Public Building Authority (PBA) from a recent school renovation project.
You further stated that the "commission has made a mockery of efficiency where school construction is concerned" by going along with the school board.
The Knox County Commission, I can assure you, places school construction and associated costs as a top priority. The establishment of the commission's Construction Oversight Committee was primarily for that purpose. The school board has now decided to end its relationship with the PBA for management on all school construction/renovation projects effective July 1, 2001.
Several county commissioners are extremely upset with this decision and I am not attempting to speak for them. However, I do want to make one primary point: the school board elected by the citizens of Knox County has the absolute statutory authority to make this decision regardless of what the commission says.
We need to look no further than the four members of the Florida Supreme Court who have tried to interfere with the absolute statutory authority of an elected body to see what chaos such political interference creates.
I have certainly been impressed with the professionalism of PBA under the leadership of its new CEO, Dale Smith. However, if the school board believes it can manage school capital projects efficiently without paying PBA fees then the decision is solely the board's to make.
We should all hope the school board succeeds with this initiative for the taxpayers' benefit. If they fail we should remember this decision on election day.
Mike Arms
Knox County Commission
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