Editorial in today's HDR comes around to the truth

In the Hickory Daily Record this morning, an article was written in their Our Voice Editorial section, the article entitled More people needed in downtown Hickory has some good points to it and in my book goes a long way towards balancing out the PR piece from Sunday morning's paper.

I would like to thank the HDR for coming around to the fact that we do have problems with the Downtown area and the same ole, same ole isn't addressing the key issues needed to resolve the problems. We don't need any more Shakedowns by the Downtown Development Association, as Harry addressed in the article below. We need to review the process annually and there must be accountability towards Hickory tax dollars invested in Downtown.

Once the HDR comes around to the fact that "Downtown" is more than just Union Square and a couple of blocks surrounding it, then the paper will be well on the way to being on the same page as The Hound. We cannot have upscale anything downtown, until the blighted areas surrounding the epicenter of Hickory are addressed. The last Downtown grocery store was robbed out of business.

The Hound doesn't expect anyone to march in lockstep with our philosophy. Harry and I have only wished to see this paper give independent observations that address the key issues facing Hickory and the surrounding area. This article suggests that there is something awry with Downtown and much of it has to do with a lack of leadership, vision, and focus.

Thank You Hickory Daily Record for giving the people a voice, because residents of this area have been saying that for years. We appreciate when you represent our interests.

***Hickory's Downtown Boondoggle