Old Mall Development Plans Blocked

Friday’s Times headline article, “Old mall development plans blocked,” gave Salisbury residents yet another taste of what our mayor and some city council members think about those city residents who are, indeed, patriots.

Government must consistently act openly and within the law, and provide the people with the complete truth behind its actions. It is necessary and correct that those living in a democratic society continually question government, especially when faults in government may exist. Those who question those faults protect the interests of the people and make government work to its fullest potential. This nation, our United States, was founded upon the questioning of government, and the Constitution created to guarantee and promote that precious ability. The visionaries who created it, some of our original patriots, saw that unfettered government was dangerous government.

The Times’ article omitted an important paragraph from the ruling document of Circuit Court Judge W. Newton Jackson, a quote that amplified his decision: “It is simply incompatible with democratic government, or indeed, even with fair government, to have the meaning of the law determined by what the lawgiver meant, rather than by what the lawgiver promulgated. (A. Scalia, A Matter of Interpretation, Princeton University Press, 1997)”

Government behaving the way that Salisbury’s does, repeatedly expecting its citizens to turn a blind eye to misdeeds and half truths is more than just disappointing; it is arrogant, irresponsible and dangerous. Our city council and mayor must follow the letter of the law in every aspect of their official actions. Failing to do so, then lambasting those who invest their time, intelligence, experience and financial resources to monitor them, their failures are only compounded, and foolishly so. This is certainly not the first time in recent memory that those council members and our mayor have laid blame upon others to deflect public opinion, rather than, with civility and humility, admit error and graciously move on to putting Salisbury’s house in order.

The concerned citizens who launched the Mall suit, Linda Kent, Dave Suiter, Terry Cohen, Kate Manizade and their many supporters deserve a standing ovation, not censure, for doing their patriotic duty to ensure that the people are heard and insisting that our government behaves appropriately and in a manner that benefits us all.