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Mayor shouldn’t take play from Lucy’s playbook
Published Friday, August 8, 2008
If you grew up watching Charlie Brown specials on TV then you are familiar with the autumn football ritual between Lucy and Charlie Brown.
With a thin grin, Lucy says something like, “Hey Charlie Brown. How about practicing a few place kicks.”
Recalling the many times Lucy has suddenly jerked away the football as he was about to kick that ball high into the sky, Charlie Brown looks at her and says, “You must think I am stupid to fall for that trick again.”
With her powers of persuasion, Lucy knows she can convince Charlie Brown to attempt that kick one more time.
In “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown,” for example, Lucy waves a piece of paper in the air and says, “This time you can trust me. Here’s a signed document testifying that I will not pull it away.”
“I guess if you have a signed document in your hands, you can’t go wrong,” Charlie Brown says to himself.
Convinced that he will get to kick that football once and for all, Charlie Brown begins racing toward Lucy.
In a matter of seconds, he swings his foot back, Lucy snatches the ball away, Charlie Brown screams, “AAUGH!” and lands on his back with a thud.
Lucy then picks the paper off the ground and says incredulously, “Peculiar thing about this document, it was never notarized.”
Watching this scene holiday after holiday, I always laughed at Charlie Brown’s gullibility knowing that I would never find myself in such a ridiculous situation.
And yet, that is exactly where Natchezians are when it comes to city recreation — flat on their backs once again.
Ever since mayor Jake Middleton made his comments about the current prospects for a new recreation complex I have been stunned.
How many times do city voters have to listen to the politicians say that if we just give them their vote we will have that state-of-the-art recreation complex that they have been promising all along?
From as far back as the 2000 election, city leaders begging for votes were telling voters that Natchez “is at a crossroads” when it comes to recreation.
Former mayors Larry L. “Butch” Brown, F.L. “Hank” Smith and Phillip West touted their proposals for a new complex. Most of their plans were developed in the last year of their terms.
Four months ago, then mayoral candidate Jake Middleton used the recreation issue as one of his major platforms.
“We’ve sat on this thing long enough. It’s time to move and I’m ready to move,” Middleton said in June.
Five days after his July 1 swearing-in Middleton told the newspaper that the idea of building a recreation complex, was now “premature.”
How many years have to pass before the issue is not premature?
“The city and the county need to decide if that’s something we want to do,” Middleton said.
In a matter of weeks recreation changed from a priority to a decision that has yet to be made.
Sounds a little like the football has been yanked away from the voters one more time, if you ask me.
Vidalia officials, on the other hand, are leading from a different playbook when it comes to recreation.
Despite several setbacks, including one proposal vehemently opposed by some residents, Vidalia found a way to make it happen.
Mayor Hyram Copeland made a promise that he intended to keep.
He proved to residents that a new recreation complex was a priority by working hard and finding a way.
My hope is that Middleton is just as serious about keeping his promise about making recreation a priority for Natchez.
Otherwise, I will be looking for another placeholder come 2012.
Ben Hillyer is the web editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3540 or by e-mail at ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com
Comments
Posted by tchamp (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
politicians always just make alot of noise. jake i thought you were a man of your word. not just because of this issue but i am regretting my choice.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Premature"? Exactly how is something that has been considered literally for YEARS still be premature??
Mayor, you got some 'splainin' to do.
Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
typical politician doubletalk. say what is needed to get elected then forget about it all making lame, ambiguous excuses. Ho Hum.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm very disapointed in the one person who I believed to be someone we could count on. Sorryful and hurt that once again we have been decieved by the political mighty to get votes. Is there ever going to be a chance we can possibly believe what a politician promises? JAKE FOR EIGHT. What a revolting slogan. I try at all time to be a lady, but this just makes me want to spit.
Posted by bear45 (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The only thing I can say is I am glad that I live in the county....
Posted by olderthandirt (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I knew it! That's why Chick got my vote.He may not have had the 'experience' Jake had, but he is an honest man.Enjoy Jake in office folks! You believed him.
Posted by Fonzarosa (anonymous) on August 8, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bear45!!!! Dido They wanted him now they got him Hook Line And Stinker
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 5:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People you do know you can get a petion up to get him out of office!!! You are not just stuck with him....Do something about him...
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe this just isn't his top priority at the moment. It doesn't mean that he isn't going to start studying and developing a plan before he announces it. If he did lay it out prematurely everyone would start complaining about what they think is wrong about it.
Maybe he should appoint a citizen "Charlie Brown" action committee to draw up what they want, how much it will cost and how to pay for the construction and maintenance of it. That way everyone could have input and understand how difficult and very likely impossible it is to please the majority. The devil is in the details.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Missed your chance to elect an honest responsible man and not a garden variety politician when you didn't elect Chick.
Middleton has had 16 years as an alderman to have a plan studied, developed and ready to go.
Posted by itsmemame (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A prime example of why he did not receive my vote... all talk and no do! It didn't take a rocket scientist to see that he didn't do much during the 16 years he was an alderman. And the beat goes on...
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
la dee dah dee dee, lah dee dah dee dahhh. I couldn't resist, itsmemame.
Posted by humorme (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets take our bored and out of shape kids to his house and play basketball in his driveway. Maybe he has a pool the children of Natchez can enjoy. That would give the project priority.
Posted by diamondlady (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Obviously the mayor is not concerned or has the ability to bring about a rec facility to Natchez, he couldnt do it when he had the rec position. Just as we preached to everyone (during his campaign) that he was going to close the clubs early, you now see we were not spreading rumors. He is going for it
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Such a sad statement on the affairs of our elected officeholders.
I said during the election that I was hoping that the picture on his wall was a rising sun, not a setting sun. I guess the picture on his wall does not have the sun in it at all, it must be a picture of himself...and the steady check he gets for the next four years.............
Posted by Fenwick (anonymous) on August 9, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez should have gotten a better mayor for themselfs. First the ball field and now he wants to close the bars. Me and my friends like to come to town on week ends and there is nothing to do but get drunk in the bars and he wants to stop that too.
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