What's the hidden agenda? | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Back in the 1992 presidential race most can remember when Ross Perot said "that giant sucking sound" referring to American jobs that would leave the US if NAFTA was passed. NAFTA did pass and Mr. Perot was right. I can remember and most of us here at the time places like Hamilton Beach, Singer Furniture and Sampson Shirt Factory. Yep, that sucking sound saw them leave Beaufort County in a hurry because of NAFTA.

    Here we are today facing a situation that will mirror "that giant sucking sound" of jobs leaving. But this time it will be jobs sucked out of downtown Washington and headed to the new county seat in Chocowinity. Currently as all of us know there is a major disagreement of what needs to be done about our jail. I made this disagreement no secret during my time on the commission or when I campaigned for this office. I will not support raising taxes at this time on our citizens who are suffering due to the economic climate we are in. And even if we had better times and I could see the need for a new jail it certainly would not be in Chocowinity. It would be kept in downtown Washington where it belongs.

    The jail is being expedited by some of my colleagues in advance of this year's election. They voted just last Thursday to take $2,000,000 out of our General Fund to start the jail. This money will allegedly be used for design purposes. The crazy thing about this vote is we haven't even gotten approval for a loan to fund the jail nor had any Commissioner read what was being proposed in these expenditures. Another ole Chicago style of politics -- we can read it after we vote on it. How's that mentality done for the American people with Obamacare? The bottom line is if the loan doesn't materialize the citizens of Beaufort County have had $2,000,000 of their money spent for nothing. Why the hurry?

    Some of the same Commissioners who have voted to spend your money recklessly are already quietly talking about how the courthouse is in disrepair and something is going to have to be done about that. Yes that's right. It's unbelievable. So after they cram a new jail down the throats of the citizens of Beaufort County it won't be long before you start hearing that message publically.

    If the jail is built in the Chocowintiy Industrial Park, and these Commissioners seem hell-bent on doing that, it will be joined by the Sheriff's Department and the Courthouse. So downtown loses all those jobs. Soon the attorneys will be moving out and then on over to Chocowinity. So downtown Washington, which is hurting to survive right now, will be a ghost town. What a shame. It's hard for people to see this happening. Too many this seems impossible. I'm 68 years old and I may not see it in my lifetime. But be reassured if nothing is done to stop this nonsense it will become reality.

    The merchants of downtown Washington need to have their voice heard and displeasure on this attack on them publically demonstrated. The Chamber of Commerce doesn't need to sit idly by and do nothing on this. The Mayor and the City Council of Washington need take action to counter what some Commissioners are doing to their city. If these groups do nothing then in a few years their lack of vision and leadership will cause immense suffering for future citizens who make downtown Washington home for their businesses. That is if there are any still in business.

    Last summer I started advocating my fellow Commissioners to put this matter of building a new jail to the people in the form of a referendum. Of course it was voted down on numerous occasions. I'm sure Beaufort County would still love to have those companies we lost due to NAFTA where we could have even offered them land in the Chocowinity Industrial Park. Washington don't let that giant sucking sound make you regret not doing something now. I urge you to attend this Monday nights County Commissioners meeting and ask us to put this on a referendum so the people's voice can be heard before it's too late.
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