Understanding the truth can be difficult today. Winston Churchill said “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”
This got me thinking. Why are people who are against the ballot initiative to maintain our streets telling everyone the city has plenty of money and officials just need to budget better?
Many want to believe it, but I can’t. The city doesn’t have the funds to maintain our roads – it’s the simple truth.
Incredibly, some people don’t want to pay a minimal half-cent on a dollar to ensure our streets and sidewalks are in good repair, even though it will have no effect on their standard of living.
Others may feel that voting against the ballot issue is a good way to “get back” at city hall. Maybe they don’t like a certain council member or had a parking ticket they didn’t like.
Unfortunately, it’s not city hall that their vote hurts, it’s their neighbors and the community as a whole.
I change the oil in my car as a form of preventive maintenance that will save money in the long run. Funding our street maintenance is the same principle.
I will complain when the streets are crumbling with pot holes and sidewalks are decrepit. Only I won’t complain in clear conscience if I don’t first try to be a responsible citizen and be part of the solution.
For that reason I support this ballot issue. The benefits are self-evident.
Edward Horvat
Durango
