William G. Faust Jr. is a resident of Dover.
The eyes of the citizens of Dover are starting to open. I believe that citizens do not like the direction the city is going in and are concerned about what they perceive as out-of-control spending.
I encourage citizens to go to the city’s official webpage and listen to all the past City Council meetings that have been recorded and videotaped. These videotapes will show our mayor and council members in action. We, as citizens, must educate ourselves on the issues and know what is occurring, so we can speak out about items that are foolish or a waste of funding.
Two key points are being spearheaded by Councilman David Anderson, but I believe they will be foolish and counterproductive. First, he suggested — and council approved — that the city purchase signs to go under the posted speed limit signs, stating, “Strictly enforced.” Councilman Anderson says residential speeding is a safety concern. I believe this is another way for the city to make revenue. When these signs go into effect in 25-mph zones, and you are clocked at 26 or 27 mph, you are more likely to get a ticket. Secondly, Councilman Anderson wants to put into place some type of ordinance that would fine people who are overcrowding medians while panhandling and fine those who want to help them. This is not going to resolve this issue. This ordinance, in my opinion, is not for safety but to make a name for oneself. Let’s look at another issue. When is the last time a Dover police officer wrote a citation for jaywalking? Jaywalking is a safety issue, but I see no push to stop/prevent such actions. It’s something to think about.
I encourage all citizens of Dover to review the city’s official webpage and find out who their council representatives are. Do not hesitate to call your council member for your district. If they do not hear from you, they will continue to do business as usual.
I live in the 2nd District, and I routinely contact Councilman Brian Lewis about concerns there. Some may question why I speak so strongly for Councilman Lewis. Basically, he earned my respect and trust. I remember when he came to my front door and asked me to sign his petition to get on the ballot for the council seat that he now holds. He spent 30 minutes talking to me. He asked me to give him a chance to earn my vote. He won his council seat, and the man who asked me for his support has not wavered on what he promised me. Councilman Lewis is always available by email or by phone to speak to me about any matter I believe is important. He never rushes to get me off the phone, and if he sends an email response, you can tell that he spent time on it. Councilman Lewis is always visible in his district, helping the citizens whenever there is a need. You do not see many other council members being active in their individual districts.
These are the questions Dover citizens should be asking themselves:
We cannot have business as usual anymore. Our most vulnerable citizens cannot afford any additional hardships put upon them. In my opinion, the mayor and council’s top priority should be to look out for the most vulnerable in our city.
This is submitted as a concerned citizen. Remember: Knowledge is power. The time to educate yourself about how our city is being run is now!
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
