It’s budget time in the city of Martinsville. City council members and others are seeking ways to balance the budget. But the city is in a deficit, partly because of an overzealous group of citizens, and sympathetic council members were on a failed $40,000 mission to remove the city’s elected mayor. Basically, they didn’t reach their goal due to incompetence.
The Martinsville accusers failed, and now they are pointing fingers at each other, citizens, lawyers, judges, registrar, and special prosecutor, who are now involved in a childish he said, she said, scenario. They actually feel that the citizens should not have to pay for their actions because they never thought this would happen. They thought they knew the law, even bragging that they had judges on their side. They came up short and couldn’t even get to the finish line. Now, the citizens of the city who had nothing to do with their adventure have to pay out of the city’s struggling budget.
It seems the Martinsville accusers should issue a public press release and apologize for their actions. There were 401 signatures on the petition, but no one is brave enough to admit their mistake. It would look like the organizers’ head would at least make a statement.
Does an apology need to be issued? Some council members want to cut funding to outside agencies. The wasted $40,000 could have gone a long way to the struggling non-profit organizations in the city that provide everyday services to the people. The school system could make good use of that type of money.
One of the most difficult problems for the city’s citizens is their short memories. They will go about their everyday lives and forget about the Martinsville accusers’ shenanigans. But the story is not over. Because of their actions, lawsuits may be around the corner. The lavish spending on city lawyers will only help those lawyer pay their mortgages. But what about the citizens who will foot the bill through a tax increase? The Martinsville accusers should remember the saying: “Confessions are supposed to be good for the soul.”
Lawrence Mitchell,
Martinsville
