As I turned 86 last March this old body of mine began acting its age. Like most men born in the early twenties it has been a long haul. All those steps, education, find spouse, first home, children, two depressions, a war; these together can wear down the mind that is finally looking for some rest. We came from Michigan to Suffolk in 1980, found a perfect spot on the water and began to understand the delightful southern accent. I wrote a column once or twice a week for the SNH, nearly 12 years, and joined Andy Damiani's RoundTableTalk. I got to know a bit about Suffolk and realized the then 50,000 citizens were set to explode to a population of 85,000 today. We hoped we could provide an exchange between those who govern and those that elect them. We know from our stats that over 64,000 computers have logged on to our site. We have seen many debates on many subjects, some of them showing all possible sides of the question. We have been both applauded and "nailed" by the same person. We always expected to be challenged and often wrong. We gave it our best shot.
We will allow both Posts and Comments until February, our annual decision date. You have that much time to offer suggestions, get in a last effort to back your theory. Feel free to write a Post in the Comment space and we will make it a Post if you so instruct us. As for me, I'm just plain worn out after spending months in hospitals and or rehab centers, May through August. I've got to pay attention to what the doctors, nurses, friends and family tell me. And I will.
2 comments:
Bob,
Thanks for all the hard work on “Inside-Suffolk” you have so generously given in your service to our community, for the last several years. You are a delight to know and call friend and to especially work with, on “the issues”. I know you will never forget the day a few years ago when we met with Andy at the Suffolk News Herald, where Steve Herbert (a past city manager of poor temperament) bellowed and demanded my scalp for writing a weekly column on Suffolk Government; for the Suffolk News Herald, which he truly detested… He hated public knowledge of the facts and especially hated it when they exposed what he wanted hidden from the public debate. Unlike my personally held opinion of Steve Herbert from that day forward, I have always known you to be a person of integrity, faith and honesty and it has shown in all you have done. While I cannot say that we have always held the same position on all issues, you have always been insightful and respectful to all that ventured out into the debate, either by their given name or anonymously.
I do wish you the very best in your many recoveries of late and hope that there will be others who will step-up to the plate and provide such honorable service to the community, as you have rendered.
In our Representative Democracy, it is imperative that all voices have a forum of expression and chance to be heard, before they are summarily dismissed by those in power. Many times, it may seem like a lone voice in the wilderness has no chance to compel change, but as you have shown so often in your cogent and expressive writing, blogging and especially your public appearances, one person can make a difference.
We as a community have suffered and are entering harder and more perilous times there is no doubt and Suffolk will be less for the lack of vigor and fatherly expression of your voice. We have many in Suffolk and even in the Commonwealth of Virginia, who seat upon the throne of power and dictate to the rest of us, as an end in its self. They know and use information and ideas to wield power for their whim or gain. Yet, you have shown that public knowledge and expression, which is your calling-card, is the only true antidote to correct and to extinguish such vile attitudes and poor governance rendered by the elite in our Republic. They would run rough-shod over the public interest if not for people like you who rally the facts, express new ideas, and engage your fellow citizens to action.
As such, I most highly commend your many hours of work in the pursuit of commentary and insight into our local government. I especially hope that you mend well my friend and that your work is known and valued, as I know it to be...
Respectfully tendered,
Roger A. Leonard, MPA/MM
Suffolk, VA and Louisville, KY
Pock: Let me on this day honoring our vets living and gone. THANK YOU SIR. GOD SPEED
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