Our View: A downtown liability becomes an asset
Normally when taxpayers take a 38-percent bath on a real estate deal, there’s little cause for optimism.
Our View: Bulldogs bound for ‘Starkville North’
On the eve of the NCAA baseball regionals two weeks ago, Larry Buckley, who played baseball at Mississippi State in the early 1970s, was spotted in Starkville wearing an interesting T-shirt. The shirt featured the outline of Nebraska, with a star designating Omaha’s location. Instead of Omaha, however, the star on the map was labeled “Starkville North.”
Our View: Columbus’ prolonged election decision is not cause for concern
We will not know the official outcome of Tuesday’s mayoral race until next week, after as many as 53 mail-in absentee ballots postmarked on election day are added to the official count. With a current lead of 40 votes, Independent challenger Keith Gaskin appears well on his way to victory over incumbent mayor Robert Smith, who has held the position since 2007.
Our View: Of the people, by the people, for the people
Our nation’s form of government is called a Constitutional Federal Republic which means we are governed by a supreme law of the land (Constitution) that all 50 states adhere to (federal). Lincoln defined the “Republic” in simple terms – government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Our View: Dispatch endorses Keith Gaskin for mayor
The Dispatch generally does not endorse candidates in local races. It hasn’t happened since 2009, when we endorsed Robert Smith, then seeking his first full term as mayor.
Our View: Focus on Issues: A reason for hope
This week, we have devoted our editorials to issues facing the city of Columbus as Tuesday’s municipal election approaches. We have discussed the challenges our city faces with crime, infrastructure and the city budget. Taken together, these editorials may paint a grim picture of our city. That’s often the case when serious challenges are confronted.
Our View: Focus on Issues: City finances
One of the most important duties performed by our mayor and city council is to plan and manage the taxpayer money set aside to provide city services.
Our View: Focus on Issues: Infrastructure
Some campaign issues are elusive to quantify and difficult to grasp.
Our view: Focus on the Issues: Crime
There are few issues that animate public opinion during an election cycle more than crime, so the recent uptick in violent crime in Columbus is an issue that cannot be ignored.
Our View: If only all our elections were like Caledonia’s
Elections on any level can be bruising affairs, so it’s a nice change of pace to see a campaign without accusations, allegations and attacks.
Our View: Lemonade Day is fun opportunity to teach kids entrepreneurship
There are some subjects we don’t teach our children at a young age for fear that they may not be able to properly process the information. We don’t give driving lessons to 4-year-olds, after all.
Our View: Better communication on violent crimes is needed
Real crime is not like an episode of “Law and Order,” where all the details fall quickly, logically into place. Often, it takes a considerable amount of investigation to unravel crimes in a way that can be easily understood and shared with the public.
Our View: An election where nobody wins
Whatever else may be said of this year’s Columbus mayoral election, for the first time in memory, there is a perception among many citizens that the race is a matter of Black and white.
Our View: City wise to wait on COO hire
During Tuesday’s meeting, the Columbus City Council, on the recommendation of Ward 2 councilman Joseph Mickens, voted unanimously to delay hiring a new Chief Operations Officer until July at the earliest.
Our View: Local violent crime surge reflects nationwide uptick
Thursday morning, Columbus officials scheduled a press conference to discuss the recent crime and shooting incidents in the city. Representatives of the Columbus Police Department, the mayor’s office, the Police Oversight Committee and the Citizen Task Force on Crime to discuss the issue and, presumably, what steps are being taken in an effort to address the problem.
Our View: There’s no gas shortage, unless you create one
Tuesday was a rare day, one in which an emerging issue has yet to be given the poison pill of partisan politics.
Our View: Local government should be transparent in hiring processes
Next month, we will go to the polls to choose who will represent us in our city governments. This form of direct representation is important
Our View: Census shows state is slowly growing more diverse
Every year since the country’s founding, Americans get a snapshot of who we are. It’s called the U.S. Census and the data found in the
Our View: Tackling tough problems takes communities working together
When communities are suddenly gripped with intense or emotional issues, especially if it’s an outbreak of violent crime, the natural response often is for citizens and community leaders to gather for some type of town hall meeting as a first step toward tackling the problem.
Our View: Welcome back, Mayor Smith
Tuesday’s Columbus City Council featured the return of a familiar face.
