Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1503533
8 UCW JULY 12 - 18, 2023 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM LETTER TO THE EDITOR e city has been at a crossroads for years in regards to tackling critical issues. A strong case can be made that a high percentage of the current rise in crime and other soci- etal issues is related to a decrease in ethical decision making. at ethi- cal decision making is not mirrored or modeled by the elected positions of this city. With the city council and mayor continually down voting indepen- dent third-party investigations, it is no shock to any educated individual as to how the population of the city can consider questionable choices as being okay. And when a society questions which laws are important or which decisions can be avoided from an ethical standpoint, it has lost its way. at is where the pillars of the community and the fabric of the city collide. Below are excerpts from an email that I sent to the elected represen- tation of the city, to include the appointed position of city manager, regarding the unofficial city man- ager's State of the City report. From January to June, 26 homicides were recorded by FPD Public Informa- tion Officer. If this trend remains constant, Fayetteville will surpass the 50 mark this year. is city has a violent crime is- sue. For the elected body that will have a debate on a way forward, try to do so without inserting identity politics. at will be difficult to do based upon the current data that paints the city as having a violent crime issue with a disproportionate number of citizens from the Black community. For most of you identity-politics- elected officials this will be fol- lowed with silence. And closed door meetings. e current "Can Do" approach does not put the city on a path of transparency or civic debate for critical issues like this. Policies of the city and the en- forcement within the framework of identity politics, or lack of, has made it easy for some residents to make a bad choice. e set of parameters within that decision making cycle is what has contrib- uted greatly to the increase in crime throughout the city. A series of bad choices tends to end up on this list, which then become a larger issue for residents to overcome. If this was an issue of "Americans" in the city, then everyone that was elected would be discussing it. Instead, the city council's main objective is identity politics. is is a hyphenated issue. e city has seen your discussions on violence which always end with systemic racism. How about double standards and standards that continually change to where residents understand that laws can be ignored? e previous five years have greatly contributed to the current status and state of the city. If you can, one standard ... one standard for every American in this city. Your current identity politics hypocrisy of current standards makes this a hyphenated issue. e lack of stan- dards has ruined too many young lives in this city. at is clearly on your shoulders. at makes it not an issue the entire city is looking at. But this is Fayetteville and without a change of character, which generally means most of you should resign, it's not going to change. e difference is that decent Americans who want a better future for their children are going to look at the data and see that the city is failing. at you are failing. Where are the pillars of the com- munity? Your lack of action on critical issues related to ethics and moral- ity in the city have illustrated the requirement to use your identity politics language in order to get the point across. e ethical and moral fabric of this city is degrading. No amount of social justice BS that you cur- rently put forth is going to fix that. If the city doesn't get back to the basics and establish parameters where ethics and morality take the forefront, you will continue to see violence perpetrated. e city has too many pastors in name only. Too many elected and appointed positions that push forth identity politics versus one stan- dard. Too many politicians versus citizens elected to serve. Welcome to the secondary and tertiary effects of those actions. —Rob Walls, Fayetteville Editor's note: is submission was edited for space. Elected leaders called to abandon identity politics NCDOT TO HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING THE CORRIDOR STUDY COMPLETED FOR MORGANTON ROAD BETWEEN REILLY ROAD AND DOBBIN AVENUE FAYETTEVILLE, CUMBERLAND COUNTY FAYETTEVILLE - The N.C. Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting to discuss the A corridor study completed in March 2023 for Morganton Rd between Reilly Road and Dobbin Avenue in Fayetteville. The study included traffic safety and operations analyses, with close coordination between NCDOT, City of Fayetteville, and representatives of Cumberland County. The results of the Corridor Study recommend a number of short-term and long-term improvements to address traffic safety and mobility along the corridor. Project details and maps can be found on the NCDOT project web page: https://Publicinput.com/Morganaton-Study-Fayetteville The information will be presented at the meeting allowing for one- on-one discussions with engineers but no formal presentation. The meeting will be held July 18 at Highland Presbyterian Church, 111 Highland Avenue, Fayetteville. The public is invited to attend at any time between 5 and 7 p.m. People may also submit comments by phone at 984-205-6615 project code 2372, email Morganton-Study-Fayetteville@ PublicInput.com, or mail at the address shown below by August 2, 2023. By Mail: Darius Sturdivant Project Manager NCDOT Highway Division 6 558 Gillespie Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled people who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Diane Wilson, Environmental Analysis Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1598, 919-707-6073 or pdwilson1@ ncdot.gov as early as possible so arrangements can be made. Those who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior by calling 1-800-481-6494. Aquellas personas no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan llamando al 1-800-481- 6494. Follow Us Today! Stay up to date on all the Up & Coming Events in Cumberland County and surrounding areas! LIKE