Your story titled “Condo developer sorry for breaking rules” was an eye opener for me. It’s amazing that the Natchez Preservation Commission’s rules are stricter than those of New Orleans. I can understand why Judy Weatherly, who is accustomed to working on her properties in the historic areas in New Orleans, would think similar rules would apply in Natchez as well. I guess that explains why New Orleans is recouping faster from Katrina’s damage than Natchez is from the Civil War.

It’s even stranger that Ms. Weatherly should be reprimanded for saving the stained glass windows instead of allowing them to be vandalized as many of the other windows were. When Ms. Weatherly purchased the church it was already in disarray. The roof was caving in, windows were being broken daily and anyone could take shelter in the building. Where was the Natchez Persecution (I mean Preservation) Commission then?

Now this same committee is concerned about stolen gutters and broken roof tiles. It’s amazing that Natchez supposedly wants investors to come to town, yet seems to want to lord over these entrepreneurs with microscopic inspections and overbearing regulations. The locals seem to have less rigid rules when they want to make changes to downtown structures.

Now the Natchez Preservation Committee wants to be able to tell someone they can’t sell parts of a building that are no longer needed in the renovation. I’m sure once other entrepreneurs discover how “friendly” our petty committees are to “outsiders” they will direct their attention elsewhere.

Welcome to Natchez where the old south still lives with the same mentality.

Gary Shaifer

Natchez Resident