Excellent HDR "Your Voice" Editorial on Downtown - 2/19/2009 (Updated)

Downtown Hickory does need energizing - By Craig Boyer (Bottom of the Page)

Mr. Boyer's comments are excellent. Let the citizens of Hickory have input and contribute to the decision making process and direction of Hickory's Downtown. Let's open up a roundtable discussion, teach and learn the history of our Downtown, discuss the problems, and work on solutions as a community.

But, this will have to be a true open forum, that is inclusive in nature, and not just the same ole people that represent Downtown's "Powers That Be" in order for it to work. Because a fake forum, where the citizens have no voice, will only make people more cynical and drive them further away.

(You can read my address to Council to see some of my thoughts on this issue at the bottom of Tuesday Night's City Council Meeting - 2/17/2009) - Linked.

Since I am apparently not going to get my opinions expressed in the Hickory Daily Record any longer, I will go ahead and post this Your Voice letter that I sent in
Sunday Evening:

Downtown More Than Just Union Square

In the article in Sunday’s paper entitled “Downtown Vital to Hickory’s Identity.” I have to say, I am sorry, but I cannot agree with its assertions.

Who is Connie Kincaid to decide what the proper boundaries of Downtown are? I totally disagree with what she asserted. Her version of Downtown is three blocks on the Northern side of the Railroad tracks and Union Square must be its epicenter. There are two blocks to the east and west of Union Square and only 2 short blocks on the south side of the tracks that constitute what she deems as Downtown.

We read the philosophies of 3 candidates in the upcoming city election to be held later this year, but there was one important person missing from Mr. Gould’s article, Z. Anne Hoyle. I would really like to know what her thoughts are about Downtown development. Is her point of view not just as valid as the other council members mentioned?

This lady has been a bedrock of the Ridgeview community and if you ask me, under her leadership, she has brought this area forward from where it was 15 years ago. I am interested in hearing what Ms. Hoyle has to say about Downtown development. Notice where Mrs. Kincaid draws her line in the southern direction, it stops at 2nd ave, one block away from Ridgeview.

Frankly, I am tired of seeing what I view as intolerance towards the less fortunate areas of our city. Every year Mrs. Kincaid receives an automatic $50,000 towards her benefit. Alderwoman Sally Fox, who sits on the Downtown Development board votes to give Mrs. Kincaid that money. Let’s be honest, Cronyism and Intolerance towards minorities and the less fortunate are not appealing. Ms. Hoyle, the Ridgeview community, and Southwest Hickory deserve a place at the table when it comes to discussions about the development of Downtown Hickory.

We will not solve the issues of our Downtown area until all interested parties are brought into the discussion. After all, Citizen Tax money is contributing to the coffers of the Hickory Downtown Development Association.