Expand dialogue to include issues affecting entire city

There won’t be another neighborhood meeting in the city of Goldsboro until after the first of the year, but that does not mean residents should wait that long if they have something to say to city officials about the future of their neighborhood or their city.

The neighborhood meetings give residents the chance to let officials know where they think the problems are on their block. An equally important task is to let city officials know about some bigger picture issues that might affect more residents, and could impact the future of the community as a whole.

City Manager Joe Huffman and Mayor Al King have said they want to hear from residents, so now is the time to talk to either if there is something about your city that has always bothered you but you have never taken the time to communicate it to someone in a position of authority.

Road conditions, the need for youth recreation opportunities or something as complicated as race relations or economic development are all areas that could be discussed and suggestions made for progress toward a solution.

The future of this community depends not just on the quality of the people who are in City Hall but on the interest of the citizens who live here. An open dialogue and the willingness to talk about issues of all sorts are what will make this community strong.

The neighborhood meetings are a good start. They have opened the door to better communication between city leaders and residents.

Now it is time to take them one step further and talk as a community about the future, the challenges and the path we all want to take to make sure Goldsboro remains a thriving, growing place to raise a family.

This community’s health and welfare is not just the mayor’s job. It is everyone’s responsibility.

Published in Editorials on October 29, 2005 11:07 PM