Weekly Wrap-Up

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Before I need to request a police escort, I think I'm going to wrap up this week of events. This has been a very active week, but we must keep things in perspective. My intentions are to provoke your thinking and to challenge you to embrace change. I feel that I need to go on record and say that I don't have any ill feelings against the people that serve. We all have personal agendas, but it was/is my hope that we elect a set of individuals that will use their agendas to propel the City of Lumberton forward. I have known Bobby Gibson all of my life, and once he became an alderman, he was/is the person I turned to when I have questions. The blog has focused on a set of events that took place during one meeting, so it would be unfair of me to base my entire opinion on one event.
My participation in board meeting began before any of our elected officials took office. I attend the meetings because I am concerned about what takes place in this city. I volunteer my time and energy to doing what I think will be beneficial to this city. We have people on the board that never attended a meeting until they were paid to do so. Therefore, I feel that it is my civic duty voice my opinion about what is taking place in my city. So I am using this blog to debunk many of the myths people have about me. There is an old expression that said if you wanted to hide something from a black person, put it in writing. Well, I hope this blog has dispelled that stereotype. I have spent a number of weekends reading the comprehensive plan, reviewing the Sunshine laws, attending planning and zoning meetings here in Lumberton and in Hattiesburg.
I hope you will read this blog with an open mind and understand that you, and me, and all of us, are responsible for what is taking place in Lumberton. It is ours to keep, or ours to throw away, and whichever action we take, the survival of our city rests solely upon our shoulders.
Our leaders are there to serve us, and if they fail in that regard, it is our right, and more importantly our duty, to make sure they do not remain in office.
Being a concerned citizen is neither easy nor simple. Much is demanded of us, and if we fail to do our duty, the Lumberton we want to see will not prevail. I have been accused of giving our elected officials hell. For the record, I don't give them hell, I give them the truth and they just think its hell.

Comments

  1. The Lumberton InformerJune 5, 2010 at 6:26 AM

    I just realized why the Chief Fortenberry is so reserved when addressing the board. He is young and raised in the South, he was probably taught to respect his elders. But he must realize that respect is earned, not just given. Older is not always are representation of wisdom. (Attend a board meeting and you would know what I mean.) Maybe he should channel his inner Franklin when dealing with the board.

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  2. AnonymousJune 7, 2010 at 9:19 AM

    Jonathan, didn't I see you at Tabernacle yesterday. Are you trying to network with their political alliance? I think what you said about them using their church for political gain was true, but at least their church support their member (even if he is doing wrong). I worked the polls when you were running for election and I didn't see your members come out and support you. What do you have to say about that?

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  3. The Lumberton InformerJune 7, 2010 at 11:35 AM

    I read over the pages of my blog, and I didn't make any dispariging remarks about Tabernacle. I have several friends at Tabernacle, probably more that I do at my own church, but it is what it is. I stand behind what I say. I am a grown ass man (I hate when people have to say that.) and if anyone has a problem with what I have to say, they know where to reach me. That's what I have to say about that!

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  4. AnonymousJune 8, 2010 at 10:43 PM

    Keep steppin on them toes Jonathan! They are gonna have to come better than that! (Didn't they see you at tabernacle, and why your church members did not support you)lolol

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousOctober 9, 2010 at 6:34 PM

    Why laugh at a man owning up and trying to make a positive difference in the world?

    ReplyDelete

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