Published: August 14, 2008 12:06 pm            

Part I: Houses, Part II: The DA

Ward 6 Councilor Sam Mason deserves an award. Maybe we could call it the “If it means growth, I’m against it” award.

Mason droned on and on Tuesday as he sought to delay a housing development and he also made sure that anything the McAlester Economic Development Service might try to do would meet a firewall of opposition from him.

Please, Mr. Mason, let our city grow!

Tuesday’s council meeting was an exercise is how not to attract development. The council put a developer through the ringer and told him he’d have to wait while they do a bit more studying.

Sam & Co. need to realize that is why this city has a very capable and knowledgeable planning commission. It would be a good idea if the council paid attention to that body’s work and recommendations.

MEDS is not the same organization it was even a year ago. The board and director have been vilified enough. The simple truth is that Sam & Co. are not qualified to promote economic development in McAlester. That takes professionals. Rather than hamstring the organization with unreasonable “goals,” the council should be supportive of efforts to bring good jobs to our city. If changing the director is what it takes for Sam & Co. to let MEDS be MEDS, then do it. But don’t set the bar so high no one can jump it.

Also on Tuesday, one of the new charter’s weaknesses was on display as Mayor Kevin Priddle was forced to open and close public hearings whenever the council considered a new city ordinance. It was excruciating and no one from the public had anything to say.

No matter, the group who re-wrote the charter knew what they were doing, right? As I recall, one of the goals was to streamline government. That ship sailed Tuesday.



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District 18 District Attorney Jim Bob Miller has stepped over the line. His complaint against Harold King for criminal libel is nothing more than a way for the DA to try and stifle dissent.

This is America and it is your right to criticize public officials. How chilling it is when a prosecutor, granted sweeping powers under the law, uses his office to intimidate. Remember, this is the same DA who told Senior Editor James Beaty to rot in hell because Beaty had the audacity to report the news.

A district attorney can cause great harm to a person and I fear this DA is out to do that. He doesn’t hide the fact that he has great disdain for the press, and with this latest action, great disdain for freedom of speech.

Do you think you or I could expect justice, fair and unbiased, from this prosecutor? I am saddened to say I do not.

There was a time when I thought Jim Bob Miller was just who we needed in the DA’s office. I was convinced he would be fair, honest and that it wouldn’t matter who your daddy was, with him you would get justice fair and square,

Seems now, however, if your daddy (or buddy or friend) is the DA, fairness has little chance of winning the day.

Matt Lane is the editor of the McAlester News-Capital. Send him hate mail or encouragement to: Editor, P.O. Box 987, McAlester, OK, 74501. Call him at 421-2022 or send an e-mail to editor@mcalesternews.com.

        

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