Dear Editor,

Last week's Howell County News' article of "Speaking Personally" on the Opinion Page was an excellent attempt to look past the smoke and mirrors of small-town politics and see the real truth lurking behind the dilemma of an unsafe building bordering Main Street.

But to actually discover why the aldermen are timidly ignoring a deadly problem, we must know the names of the members who comprise the group - Main Street Willow Springs, LLC. That revelation of identity will completely explain the city's chronic hesitancy.

Many years ago, the town of Mountain View endured the same cowardly crisis after the old bank was gutted by fire, along with the neighboring OTASCO building. The city fathers delicately danced around the looming specter of pending calamity since the property was owned by a business family in the community.

Although everyone and their neighbor knew exactly how the story would end, yet city government was more frightened of offending the wrong people, than they were of killing the innocent public. The decision simply boiled down to the sacrosanct priority of protecting "the good ole boys" at the top of the ladder instead of advocating for the poor peons on the bottom rung.

Regardless, while the "powers that be" wrenched their hands in anguish to protect the fragile feelings of those who controlled the "old money," a windy March day settled the nagging problem once and for all after the building's weakened facade collapsed on the heads and shoulders of three unsuspecting individuals.  The unlucky souls were crushed to death beneath the massive weight of rubble as they strolled unaware on the sidewalk below.

Problem solved! No more debate... despite multiple funerals for the victims who trusted their elected representatives to do the right thing (which they never did).

Soon enough, the very same scenario will replay on Main Street in Willow Springs. With the customary seasonal precipitation, accompanied by freezing and thawing, the tragedy will likely occur this winter, followed immediately by accusations and finger pointing to ascribe blame. Considering the subsequent litigation and liability suits, I wonder just how important cronyism really is when compared to legal actions against negligent loss of life.  The outcome will be pathetically predictable! 

While listening for wailing sirens to blare downtown at any moment, I have decided to protect myself if no one else cares enough about my safety to intervene. Consequently, I no longer drive in the shadow of the crumbling structure, taking a detour down a nearby alley before returning to the street. Traveling the full length of Willow Springs' Main Street is a losing game of Russian Roulette. Soon enough, some unlucky souls are going to bite the bullet while the city officials callously look the other way.

 

Edwin Woolsey