Vote yes on May 19 for both measures | Letters | March 27

Published 9:00 am Friday, March 27, 2009

Even now the island’s essential character is best defined in a moment of truth as it bubbles to the top.

What things do we 22,000 people care most about? And how must it gel in consensus? Or as on May 19, when we vote for what we care for. Read weekly what we write most to each other about.

“Do we need different politicians or a better form of government?” This question about a change to a city manager to run the city was emailed around this week.

This, and a brand new Wilkes school, where my children went 30 years ago. These will compete for wallet contents after May 19.

I say we vote for both.

We need to vote for a city manager form for its reliability. I was among those who sponsored all-island government in 1991. We expected more from it. It was to be more, well, “from ourselves.”

I know now a manager works better over the long haul and can thrive, even as some of our well-meaning, elected officials on white horses fall off regularly.

Wilkes School tended to be shabby chic in its rescue efforts ever since, even as our fellow citizens invested for personal gain at 10 percent per year returns.

Some of these neighbors are now “selling short.” No one on island has stood up to say we should vote “no” because they got defrauded by Bernard Madoff as one in his extended family.

But we’ve had a few of those among ourselves over 30 years, either as church or health club ponzi schemes, or in our plain 401-k promises, or from local efforts to clear-cut sites or raze affordable homes for “simple” mom- and-pop benefits.

Our bubble to the top on May 19 does begin our own economic incentives solution. And it’s ours to make, instead of so many others we’ve read about lately.

R.O. Conoley

Sunrise Drive