OPEN COLUMN
Speak up for good growth, or suffer the consequences

Editor, the Tribune: There comes a time in a person’s life when you have to speak up and say enough is enough! The issues concerning the Crosscreek development are my "enough."

For years we have been bombarded with stories accusing developers of raping our land and lining their pockets without any regard to the city or environment. To group all developers together is wrong. Only negative articles are published. Nothing has been written about what many developers have done for this community. It would take several pages to list all of the contributions that people such as Bob LeMone, Billy and Elvin Sapp, Rob Wolverton, Fred and Jack Overton, Jack Daugherty and Jose Lindner have given to the city. These are just a few of the "good" developers who give their time and talents to the community because they love what they do and care deeply for this city and the university.

The Shops on Broadway, Old Hawthorne and Bristol Lake are examples of developments that have not only added jobs and income for the city’s coffers but are beautifully designed and built. The project at Crosscreek will be just as nice, yet the council, without good reason, turned down the development.

We all need to speak up and help lead Columbia forward. The environmentalists in this town yell "rape" without proof, and when we say nothing, they take control. Speak up now for good growth or suffer the consequences of a stagnant community with no new jobs and decreased taxes for infrastructure.

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Pete Grathwohl

2400 Shady Hills Lane

Rocheport

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