Buckroe plan flaw
By Joan Charles
Daily Press
February 13, 2007
The Taxpayers Education Association was in agreement with the editorial "Don't do it," Feb. 1, until the tag paragraphs. An excellent city planner should give reports to council that are accurate. The Buckroe Beach report is a case in hand. Its entire premise was wrong because the figures were drastically wrong. This point was brought to the city planner's attention only to be denied and then ignored. Is this being capable and creative? Capable, no; creative, possibly.
Taxpayers have footed the bill for failed projects. Following the chain of events, historically most projects will wend their way back to the planning department and a council believing the reports presented to them. The Planning Commission, which included a councilman, bashed citizens for pointing out the proven flaws in the Planning Department's report. What redress do citizens have? How can they be heard? Thank goodness for Councilwoman Angela Leary.
A corporation would send an entire department packing if its research were inaccurate resulting in economic disaster. A doctor would sue a laboratory for flawed reports that caused the death of a patient. A newspaper would not tolerate a reporter giving flawed reports. But a councilwoman gets bashed for requesting correct information.
The Taxpayers Education Association reviewed the planning department's Buckroe Beach report at the request of a citizen of Buckroe, not a councilperson. The Taxpayers Education Association was shocked at the results and dismayed at the planning department's reaction. Now the Taxpayers Education Association will scrutinize every report generated by that department.
Our research books are always open for review.
Joan Charles
Hampton
