The Apathy Election

The citizens of Danville have alot to fear unfortunately they will never realize the source of the fear. This is because it is going on right under their noses but they choose to do nothing about the situation. As Edmund Burke said in 1756, “No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” This spells out the case for Danville very prophetically.

Danvillians fear change. Why change it when it is working? Why rock the boat? Leave it alone. Such statements are the thoughts of fearful people. They accept the substandard, the mediocre, the bland. They accept that in their leaders also. The more they blend into the background the better they like them. It is government by fear of change.

The city council elections are coming up in just two weeks. The leaders elected will guide the city for two more years until the next group are up for a vote. But instead of widespread questioning of the candidates the only sound heard are the sheep lining up to be fleeced. For the last few years the people of Danville have been sold a false hope. Hope that more jobs will return. Hope that utilities will decrease. And hope that Danville will revive itself from its Rip Van Winkle sleep. Hope lacking foundation.

Danvillians should jam the candidate forums asking the hard questions of the people seeking the positions. But only a handful of people show up. No hard questions just softball throws from the press. A middle school child could put together the answers to the questions. But why worry? Life will go on as it always has, with no direction, just fear. Fear that someone may actually have a new idea that hasn’t been thought of before. Fear that the candidates might have to answer a real question.

The school board elections? Please…………. A jackass could run and win. Or has one already won? What a pitiful group. They are the biggest collection of failures lacking the basis intellectual standards to move the needle on a brain scan machine. They sit by quietly as the district dies a slow squirming death. The leadership of the district are a collection of misfits who masquerade as administrators. Dumb decision after dumb decision is made and supported by the board. When are the tough questions going to be asked of them? For example why does the city fund the school board at over $6 million above the minimum when example after example can be shown of the board’s complete inability to control spending and stop wasting money? Why does Pittsylvania County produce such better results on one twentieth of the funding? Why have a majority of the district true leaders resigned or retired over the last four years? Why has the board stood by when hundreds of thousands of dollars has been wasted on idiotic purchases, mismanagement, and fraud?

Well I for one refuse to let them get by. I will continue to write about them and the greed they display. They will not slink silently into the night. I will not let apathy win. As Charles Nimitz once said, ”God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.”

People of Danville. Wake up. Throw off the shackles of apathy. Ask questions. Demand answers. Vote like your life depends on it.

Business Rumblings and Briefs

Just an overview and musings of the latest business news in Danville….. Welcome O’Reilly Auto Parts building at the corner of Piney Forest and Audubon..... Mighty fine headquarters for Dodson Pest Service on Memorial Drive….. Bill Stearners HVAC supply company built a new warehouse and sales office on Memorial Drive next to the old Danville Chrysler building….. Harbor Freight, a discount tool store, opening soon on Sandy Court off Piedmont Drive….. Sam’s Club had biggest opening of any Sam’s Club in history, Danville people do buy!..... Its amazing that no one has ever built a restaurant along the river, it would be a great location….. What’s behind the Stratford Inn closing down?..... Heard of a new restaurant/night club going up near NC line ….. Roto-Rooter moving office from Piney Forest by Skatetown to old Dan River trucking terminal on 58 West….. Newspaper in town has been butchering classified ads for weeks with new system, why mess with what isn’t broken?..... New executives at Swedwood all bought homes near Greensboro. What does that say about Danville?..... Warehouse district is really heating up. New young professionals love the lofts….. Ollies Bargain Barn coming to Fairgrounds Plaza…..Perfect Body gym is expanding AGAIN. This time to add basketball court….. Look at the trucks doing work in Coleman Marketplace. Very few Danville area contractors are working there. Perhaps the $8 million given to the developers should have had some stipulations about supporting Danville contractors….. “Its Fashion” moving into new expanded store in Nor-Dan Center…..Lots of places to eat in Danville if you don’t want to use a fork…… The Rosen Group are the new leasing agent for Danville Plaza….. Two new tenants already in Jerry Davis’ strip center on Riverside Drive….. 41 renovations going full steam. That area will be the next development hot spot. Pittsylvania County better plan additional school space quick….. Pittsylvania County wants to close only state store? Go back to math class….. New strip center going up on Westover. Do developers see the empty retail space around town now?..... CVS ready to open at 58 East and Kentuck Rd…… Rumor of another Sheetz going up on 58 East….. Walmart pulls plug on Blairs store. Hopefully just on hold and not killed totally. Ever try to shop in there on the first or third of the month? Why do they only open a few checkouts?..... Sam’s Club has already shown it intends to be a good corporate citizen. Already donated over $5,000 to God’s Pit Crew. Also notice that a lot of Danville service contractors worked on their building…..Rumor that the old hotel at Main and Union will start renovations again….. Shame the old Dimond offices on Bridge Street can’t find a new life…..Wouldn’t the old Carrington Hall on Bridge Street make a good restaurant/music venue with possibly a deck overlooking the Dan River?….. Don’t rule out uranium yet. Its day will come. The more gas creeps up the more it looks as a good alternative….. Danville needs a fast food salad restaurant….. WDVA closing down soon and towers will be removed….. Danville needs a full service real bakery, fresh bread, rolls, pastries, mmmmm….. Till next time—Buy In Danville! ..... Any news send to savetheschools2@aol.com.