Gleaning Facebook: I'm all for economic development!

We had a great time exercizing our First Amendment rights along Turner McCall Blvd for about an hour this morning. Thank you to the folks who joined us, and to the many who shouted or tooted support or just lifted thumbs-up as they passed. One car actually had one of our signs and the folks held it out the window as they passed.

I just want to say again: I love that woman. To be sickeningly sweet ---- but during this emotional and stressful time I have to say it ---- Anywhere I am with her is paradise to me. --------------- And I would be remiss if I did not give a shout-out to our Rome police officers AND their leaders. I have never had anything but polite exchanges with any of them. Our outstanding new Chief as well as the officers who came by our demonstration and those who helped me obtain our permit, could not have been friendlier or more helpful.

Jobs?

Economic Development?

The developers lost their apartment complex, it moved to a much better location by State Mutual Stadium where the site is already leveled and construction can begin much sooner and any jobs that will be created will be hiring quicker.

The same is true for the several businesses which will go into the small shopping center there rather than the one at Burwell that would require very expensive and environmentally damaging site preparation.

Other businesses will no doubt choose to build at the old K-Mart site which already is level and has infrastructure.

Others may decide to purchase the lots for sale along Bale Street and Fifth Avenue and Avenue A (Please try to fit into the historic neighborhood gently there!)

The Burwell/Jackson Hill project would "create" fewer jobs, cause great controversy and ill will in the community, and take longer to come to fruition. It will also destroy a beautiful and historic spot loved by the community.

It's just an idea whose time has passed. Rome has moved on. We have much better spots for development and the voters have said, "No."

There is still time to remind our commissioners. Please do. And please come to our three events. Check the Save Rome's Central Park facebook page.

This is an aerial photo of the pond as it appeared last winter. The green line represents a possible bike/hike trail. In order to put a small strip mall here as the developers have proposed HUGE amounts of fill would have been required and infrastructure installed, catch basins and other floodwater retention areas created. Economically there are much better locations.