As my faithful readers know, I was on the radio this morning. I’ll come back to that subject a little later, but the main point of my post this evening occurred after seeing a Daily Times piece that “Cato” showed to me as he was reading his copy. It seems that Salisbury City Councilperson Shanie Shields and Wicomico NAACP head Mary Ashanti are a little miffed at the makeup of the Wicomico Neighborhood Congress, and then the Daily Times piled on by noting that no one living west of Hebron is in the group. So already the group is backtracking and trying to be more “inclusive.”
This raises several questions in my mind. First and foremost, where does “inclusion” end? Are there any Hispanics or Asians on the commitee, or does it even stop at race? Are we going to hear next from the GLBT crowd if we find that all of the steering committee members are straight?
To me, the people to ask about this lack of “people of color” on the committee are Shanie and Mary. Because Shanie Shields is now the membership director, I can throw the question back at her and Mary Ashanti – what have you done to encourage participation from that community? (Complaining to the Daily Times doesn’t count.) Perhaps they’ll say a few words about it on March 29th because District 1 County Councilperson Sheree Sample-Hughes is starting her promised quarterly meetings on that night.
Personally I heard about the Wicomico Neighborhood Congress through news coverage but I recall there were several radio ads on WICO-AM, and I’d guess on their sister stations as well. Between news/talk, midtempo rock, country, and smooth jazz, they should’ve covered a good chunk of the demographics.
Some of you may know this and some may not, but I’m one of those 50 or so volunteers who asked about joining. So I have a vested interest in the WNC, and I didn’t join this outfit because I was looking for “diversity”. Each area of Wicomico County and each community is free to participate as it wishes. And it may be that the fine folks in places like Mardela Springs, Bivalve, and Tyaskin are taking a “wait and see” approach as they warily eye our group. So I participated in the vote, and while I had up to 10 choices I selected just four because they were people I knew and had a good impression about. Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to attend these steering committee meetings because I have another commitment on Tuesday nights; however, I’ll be able to get my input in after April 10th.
Lost in all the hubbub is the simple fact that this body is only being organized at the moment – the purpose of the steering committee is to set rules, bylaws, and guidelines that the WNC will go by. I don’t believe the actual group will get down to business until May. And, while I’d like plenty of participation, a group the size of that discussed in the Daily Times today (up to 400) would, in my estimation, be far too unwieldy to be any good.
My intention in joining the WNC was to represent the neighborhood in which I bought my house. Part of that will actually be attempting to form our own neighborhood group since as far as I know, none exists. To that end, I’m going to represent everyone regardless of race, creed, color, religion…they’re my neighbors. So I wish the minority communities would get over their attitude about someone not of their race representing them. It’s counterproductive and takes away from the work that’s being started.
All right, a few words about my radio time this morning. I’m not as sure I was as on my game today as I could’ve been. At times I find it much easier to write the correct words and string together coherent thoughts than to say them, and this morning was one of those times. Fortunately, my friend G.A. (“Cato”) doesn’t have that problem as much as I do so we did all right. But I could’ve done better, I got a bit off track on my one thought and lost my opportunity to tie it back to where I wanted to go with it.
I still like the thought of a portion of the old mall becoming a business incubator if the building is structurally sound enough and can be refurbished at a reasonable cost. I know it may be far too late for that, but at least I’ve made the effort and placed the idea in the hopper. I also know the old Station 16 firehouse was discussed today by John Robinson and Terry Cohen, and I know my blogging cohort Joe Albero has a cash offer for the building on the table. What I’d like to see is his plan, as well as any other ones for the building. I’m led to assume that it’s reasonably sound structurally, so it’s not a likely candidate for the wrecking ball like the old mall is.
As I noted this morning, my job depends on investment from people with a dream. Since I like this area and have adopted it as home, I’d like to stay here. Dealing with petty squabbles about racial makeup of a steering committee detracts from the goal we should all have, one of making this community a better one for people like me to adopt.
Dear Mono-Mike:
First things, First – the big event of the SWAC forum – Comegys’ wife deliberately heckling another candidate. The report in today’s Daily Times mentions the matter, but there’s a much more detailed account on a blog at http://www.sbynews.com/index.php/site/comments/unbelievable/
BTW: this makes me wonder if Bubba’s wife is not the instigator of his public rudeness toward Councilwoman Campbell, which should be about to end, permanently, if the voters are wise.
Next: regarding the article that you mentioned – the Daily Times depends on whining by the likes of Shanie rather than reporting the news – it’s part of the Gannett group, after all, and the Bassett bunch makes it even worse in terms of its journalism. The new City reporter (Katherine Crowell) is a rare exception to the norm (despite her inadequate coverage of Ms. Comegys’ conduct last night), but I understand that she is simply marking time at the “Slime” until she connects with a real newspaper.
Last, not Least: you and “G-A” are a good combo on radio and remind me of the “Joy Boys,” who were last heard “chasing electrons to and fro,” although someone else thinks you’re more like Lum & Abner – go figure.
PS:
The link in my earlier comment looks funny on my monitor — can you correct that, please?
TNX
Station 16 would make a great place for a Salisbury’s history museum, complimented by firefighting history and relics of service. I myself have hundreds of Native American artifacts from this area, history that goes back over 10,000 years. From old fire engines to petrified crabs, artifacts and megaladon teeth that are 60 million years old. This area is rich in history, recover some before it’s all covered in asphalt and concrete.
SS, your link was just fine.