Takes issue with Dispatch coverage of CRA
I must confess I have written this letter many times over and over again in my mind. I struggle as I deal with my internal frustration and confusion as to why your newspaper continues to criticize and impose negative insinuation against the efforts of the Columbus Redevelopment Authority and on a larger scale the City of Columbus and her elected leadership.
It has become obvious that you want to paint the efforts of the Columbus Redevelopment Authority in a negative light to the readers of your newspaper. The majority of your stories lately have not “reported the facts” but rather have been used to tell your side of the story, which should be presented as an opinion editorial not a balanced and fair newspaper story. Your own publisher is quoted as saying “not all development is good development”, I am curious as to how he arrived at this opinion about our efforts when he has never attended a single meeting of our 3 year existence. Your readers deserve better, but more importantly they deserve all the facts.
For the record, I feel incredibly confident and very positive about all the actions by our board (Columbus Redevelopment Authority) to date. I know that we have always sought to act in the best interest of the community as a whole. Although it might benefit my frustration to address all the inaccuracies you have reported, I will not use this letter to debate a back and forth about the facts surrounding the actions of our board. I know that in the end you have the final say and will win that debate as you will only allow the facts that you want presented to be presented. However, I do want to address the larger issue and I hope you will allow my words to be presented to the public and let them decide how to feel in the end, not told how to feel by your reporters’ one sided inflammatory stories.
What does it mean to be a leader? A leader first and foremost is someone who willing steps forward when all others take no action. They recognize that their efforts will be criticized and praised, but most importantly they recognize the reality of ultimate accountability – final judgment. The final judgment of a leader is the reality that their actions and most importantly their results will be judged as a success or failure. A leader willing takes on this accountability and strives forward recognizing there is not value in arguing against critics but moving forward toward the final goals knowing his justification will be the final result.
The 5 members of the Columbus Redevelopment Authority are volunteer leaders. They are not compensated in any way. They choose to take time away from their jobs, family and leisure activities to give back to the City of Columbus and her citizens. We all recognize that by stepping into this leadership position we may be criticized or judged. However, we believe that our test is to bring forward a positive final result that truly benefits the community as a whole.
We recognize that there is not a way to please everyone but we work toward a result that brings the greatest benefit to the whole, not merely pleasing just the few. A most critical piece to this process is that we listen to those that come forward with information to assist us. We have also chosen to seek out information and input to help us. Your efforts to discredit us and make it appear we acted with malice or deception are shameful. Why didn’t you or your sources come to us with the information and history of the area to assist in the process? Better yet, why did you choose to criticize our efforts versus help in our efforts? Your readers will be able to determine their own answers, but it seems to me that you have an agenda to discredit and disparage all of our work while taking very little time to even understand the issues involved.
The role of critic is easy. It requires no special skill, only the desire to tear apart and break down. It is far more difficult to be a leader. To be someone who is willing to put in the work, grind through the long hours and have dedication to complete the process. A leader is not in front to seek glory, but to make the path of those behind them easier. I encourage you and your reporters to recognize the effort put forth by elected officials and board members who serve this great city of Columbus. Instead of criticizing them, seek to get more informed and hopefully join in the efforts to improve and grow our community. I would also encourage your readers to become informed on issues and work to become part of the solution versus someone who stands back and points out perceived failures. We are not blameless or faultless individuals who can’t be questioned; but merely good people striving to do great things for our fellow citizens. Recognizing the words of President Theodore Roosevelt, I encourage you and all your readers to join us in the arena…
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
John Acker
President- Columbus Redevelopment Authority Board
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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