Dear editor,

Recently I read with keen interest a column contributed to James G. Smith in your newspaper titled, “Everyone can help Selma develop.” Mr. Smith calls for “a fresh coat of paint” on the community. He admits that Selma has many problems. He states that Mayor George Evans’ election provides a ray of hope for Selma. He calls for citizens to help the mayor get the community turned around. Then he list many “major concerns” of “most who live here and those looking to visit or start a business here.” Finally, he suggests an “old-fashion Holy Ghost revival” as a cure for the city’s problems.

There is something that really disturbs me about that article. There are many things Mr. Smith and others are so willing to ignore and so many things they are willing to blame. Let me give you a couple of examples.

While Mr. [James] Perkins was in the office of mayor, Mr. Evans was the president of the city council. During that 8-year period, the major complaints about the city’s dysfunctions was about fussing and fighting on the city council. Why is it that Mr. Smith is willing to ignore that it is the responsibility of the council president to keep order on the city council? Why ignore the fact that Mr. Perkins never served as city council president, but it was Mr. Evans who was president of the city council when all the so-called confusion took place. Face the fact the confusion on the city council ended when Mr. Evans was no longer leading the council.

Why ignore the fact that the city of Selma’s debt has increased from less than $10 million under Perkins to over $45 million under Evans? The city is almost bankrupt and Mr. Smith, who appears to be a sound and reasonable man, is willing to give Evans four more years to finish the job.

It is interesting that now Mayor Evans always points to the city council as being the decision maker on hot issues and that he is only a guest at city council meetings. Why blame Perkins for council mismanagement when Perkins was only a guest?

My concern is that Mr. Smith wants to blame Perkins for Evans’ faults and excuse Evans for his faults.

 

Johnnie Leashore,

Selma