Over the years this newspaper and the communities it serves have benefited from reader letters expressing opinions on local issues.

Several of these regular contributors come to mind: the late Sally Mauck, Cameron Triplett of Brooksville among them.

Whether you agreed with them or not, their letters offered insightful, often provocative, commentary from caring, thoughtful residents.

Currently Bill Gillmore, who is relatively new to Columbus, has donned the mantle worn by Mauck, Triplett, et al.

Tuesday afternoon after attending a 30-minute city council meeting, I read Gilmore’s latest offering.

Gillmore compares Columbus with the affluent university town he has moved here from.

“I had not counted on the effects of poverty. The university here, The W, is slowly being crushed by poverty. Damaged buildings have been allowed to rot, unrepaired. Ordinary maintenance is hit-or-miss. Roof shingles litter the walking paths all over campus. It is tragic.

“City sidewalks are appalling. They are broken ankles waiting to happen. They are often made impassable by overgrown trees and shrubs, and parked cars. First responder numbers are inadequate. This is nobody’s fault. There is no money to adequately pay more trained and qualified people.”

Gillmore does not just point out problems; he offers an antidote:

“We can try to show respect for the city. Show respect for its residents, all of us. That respect will transform into action and achievement. It will manifest as mutual support for all of us, in all six wards. It may just be enough to overcome the slough of poverty.”

At Tuesday night’s council meeting Councilman Jackie DiCicco questioned the $2,199.36 cost to send Councilman Pierre Beard to the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Conference in Point Clear, Alabama.

Apparently that figure was inflated by a $1,000 late fee because the city or Mr. Beard was late in registering for the conference.

We can’t repair sidewalks, but we can send a councilman to a luxe four-day-three-night conference and pay a $1,000 late fee along the way.

After this was explained, a resigned DiCicco expressed hope Beard would share with the council some of what he learns at this high-priced event we taxpayers are funding.

When other councilmen start reporting what they learn at the conferences they attend, I will too, Mr. Beard retorted.

Without further discussion, the council approved the expenditure.

Where does this sense of entitlement come from? Do our elected officials feel like they have to answer to no one when they go on these taxpayer-funded junkets?

While I don’t think Bill Gillmore’s call for more respect and kindness is a panacea for all that ails us, it would be a welcome change … both in boardrooms and on our city streets.

Birney Imes

Columbus

Birney Imes III is the immediate past publisher of The Dispatch.