The long-running production that was the City of Columbus’ previous regime had many characters. Some notables were the strong-arm brawler mayor, the “circumventing the law” general counsel, the corrupt CFO, a go-along council member (or two), and assorted “consultants” that were not restricted by the tenets of fair-play and full-disclosure. Information from city hall appeared to be a political weapon with ready access to what the regime considered or spun as positive news and a disappearing act for anything negative.
Who recalls when the council refinanced the only rated debt just days after being notified by Moody’s that the debt rating would be pulled? Who remembers when the Mississippi Supreme Court disagreed with the general counsel on how to circumvent the Open Meetings Act? Who remembers such phrases as “great financial results” and “great financial condition” without context of what “great” even meant? Who remembers a journalist arrested as a result of investigative reporting? Who remembers the harassment of a small business through the dispatch of both the chief of police and the assistant chief?
There have been a few character changes although many of the cast members remain the same in this current production. The general counsel’s response to the public records complaint acting on behalf of the previous regime after the election loss and in its final days is a reminder of how much the city needed some changes. The current administration seems to demonstrate a commitment to transparency and responsiveness. In my opinion, the city should no longer attempt to defend the indefensible and should embrace the spirit of the law rather than finding a way to bend the law to its will. A leopard may not be able to change its spots but a city council can change its counsel (and other consultants.)
Some of the citizens of Columbus voted for script revisions and more character development.
Will Sanders
Columbus
Editor’s note: The letter-writer is not the Lowndes Port Authority Director.
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