Ask the Attorney: What's eating me
I don’t care much for the Hubbub. The anonymous format encourages uninformed opinion. I think anonymity should be reserved for wannabe terrorists in Jihadi videos and fools robbing liquor stores in ski masks. If I have something worth saying you can be sure you are going to know I am the one saying it.
I do like signed letters to the editor. Unfortunately, there always seems to be a shortage of folks in Crestview with an opinion they are willing to share and claim. So last Wednesday I was surprised to see two opinion letters on the same topic: dining opportunities in Crestview.
The first article was written by Tommy Batson and was advocating your patronage at some of the many fine local eateries we have located here in Crestview. My mother was a Batson, but so far as I can recall, I’ve never met a cousin Tommy. Relation or not, I couldn’t agree more with his opinion, though I do prefer La Rumba to Azteca.
The alternate view was taken by Arnold Hauger who bemoaned the lack of big restaurant chains in Crestview. I found several of Mr. Hauger’s assumptions to be flawed the two most obvious being that “big” is better and that there aren’t any “big” restaurant chains in Crestview (I’m thinking Hooters, Ryan’s, Applebee’s, Cracker Barrel…). But for me, the most flawed assumption was that the current Crestview city council should squarely shoulder the blame for this failure.
I will be the first to tell you that the council’s decisions are often made with insufficient deliberation and an incomplete understanding of the issues before them.
I have more than once taken the council to task over certain decisions and non-decisions. Indeed, I have a short list I would love to cover right now if only the paper would give me 4,000 words a column.
However, we must be mindful of the fact that council members make $5,200 a year and must rely heavily on the preparatory work and guidance provided by city staff. For various reasons, the information they are funneled is not always thorough or entirely accurate.
We further have to understand that the council plays no role in approving or disapproving the nature or quality of the retail or restaurant opportunities that choose to call Crestview home. This is more often determined by “rooftops” and traffic counts.
The council must balance multiple mandates requiring the provision of various services (traffic concurrency, water, sewer, fire, public safety) against the collection of sufficient funds through fees and taxes to meet these mandates — not an enviable task.
Do they always get it right? Absolutely not. But for $5,200 a year they show up to endless meetings and workshops in an attempt to improve our quality of life while others are off eating supper at a “big” chain and supporting the economy elsewhere.
We have it pretty good around here. Could it be better? Absolutely. But if you want improvement you must be active and supportive. Attend a council meeting, support your local businesses or pick up litter in your neighborhood, but don’t just complain. Complaining benefits no one.
Finally, to Mr. Hauger: I appreciate your commentary, whether I agree with it or not. I challenge you to attend a council meeting and become more involved with the process. I try to attend at least once a month, and so far as I know, we have never met. My hunch is that you have not come out to see the council in action since the last election. Tell me if I’m wrong and I will set the record straight next month and buy your lunch. I’ll even let you choose among any of the many fine restaurants located in north Okaloosa County!
Nathan D. Boyles, Attorney at Law, practices at 204 N. Main St.; Crestview, FL 32536. He can be reached at 689-8505. His column will appear on the first Wednesday of the month. This column is intended for general educational and entertainment purposes and is not legal advice. Every situation is unique. If you have a legal issue you should contact a lawyer who can provide counsel.
