When I read the recent editorial, "Big trouble in little Jackson" by Raheem Hosseini, I picked up the phone and called him.
"Raheem, didn't you read my guest commentary?" ("Do you want to know what I think?" published in the Ledger Dispatch on Jan. 4).
I think he was taken aback by my question, but what followed was a respectful conversation about journalism, Jackson and our mutual concern for the community.
In his editorial about Jackson's economic woes, Raheem wrote, "…city leaders are banking their economic hopes on luring an opposed Home Depot development." I asked Raheem which city official he had spoken with to obtain this point of view. He confessed he'd not actually talked to any member of the council or city staff.
In Raheem's defense, I acknowledge that not all public servants are easy to catch up with or amenable to speaking with the press. However, we here in Jackson are not in that camp. I repeat this for any members of the press: If you want to know what we think, please ask us.
We agreed that I might write a brief letter to the editor to set the record straight. So here it is from the mayor of Jackson: Since the possibility of a Home Depot in Jackson was first proposed to us, I've not heard one city staff person or council member express the sentiment that Home Depot would be an economic savior for the city.
If you think your elected officials are remaining ominously silent on the subject of Home Depot, I ask you to refrain from assumptions about our positions. Silence at this point does not mean endorsement. It is our job to remain objective and gather as much information and public input as possible while allowing due process to continue until the point that the project comes before the council for a decision. To do less would be a disservice to our constituents and a violation of our duties.
There you have it. This is what I think.