Atomic City Talk

In today's Oak Ridger, there was a blessed short letter that struck a cord with me. It said:

The writer seems to be saying, "I want it back the way it was!" However planting the trees will not restore the topography. So it seems incomplete...

The point that really stood out was the commitment to achieving this person's dream. Since "If I win the lottery" is today's euphemism for "It ain't ever gonna happen!", the writer is not willing to invest in his vision. This stands in stark contrast with the preceding letter where a group of seniors are finally organizing a political drive to get their long overdue Senior Center.

If folks really want something, wistful thinking will not deliver unless they have an in with the good fairy. Take a cue from the seniors, get organized and make your case! The best action that being wistful can produce seems to be obstruction, and you don't get anywhere with that.

I agree CN. Actually I think that the seniors that are organizing this effort made a mistake by not announcing this project prior to the election. I understand the writers comments that Crestpointe was front and center during the campaign, but with three new council members taking office, getting their commitment during the campaign would have been a big help right about now.

No doubt about that. Having their issue part of the campaign in a formal way would have helped them as a political entity to focus on candidates and vice versa. I think they would have gotten a lot of play during the election process that they missed.

Although I agree with this as far as the seniors are concerned I have one question, if you have no revenue how do you pay for it? It seems like the mentality that we want it all but we aren't willing to give anything up. Crestpoint would have been a positive move for income to fund these sorts of projects. Maybe we can just do negative spending. That philosophy is the philosophy used when the government was funding this town. There was always a bail out system in place. DOE would take care of it. They are no longer doing that and we need to find our own sources of revenue. There is no fairy godmother, when you spend you have to have the ability to pay.

I personally think this is a political question. You have to make elected officials know that they are working for you. Then the gates are open to possibilities.

In this case, if you can fund raise like was done for the schools, the road is easier. Otherwise, can funds be diverted to your project without political disruption? Can taxes be raised without political disruption? Can funds be borrowed without political disruption?

I have not heard the seniors desired path through these funding questions. For example, do they recommend that we raise taxes for this project before asking for their freeze on property taxes that is now available in this state? Or are they more like you suggest where they might ask for their freeze and then apply for funding?

The same situation happened with the Crestpointe site. Citizens Oak Ridge wanted that part of Pine Ridge to be a park from the time it was sold but never got organized to the extent of suggesting a project and certainly never confronted the funding issue.

Wasn't there a song about "pennies from heaven"? Apparently, some are waiting for it to rain.

In the meantime, if I win the lottery, I'll pay to have the shopping center built AND take care of the wants/needs of the senior center.

Where does the local AARP chapter stand on this issue? I haven't ever heard a statement coming from them suggesting that Oak Ridge needs a senior center.

I haven't heard but since they meet in the Senior Center, they are probably in favor of it. I would be interested in hearing how they think it should be funded.

The News-Sentinel carried an informative story that includes the names of two former East Tennessee mayors among the seniors seeking an expanded senior center. They talked about getting the attention of the City Council so they seem to have the first concept well in hand.

Still no word on whether they have a funding plan that they support.

The Oak Ridger also has an informative story that includes more rank and file interviews. Here I see more statements of entitlement and again no hint of a practical plan for financing.

I suspect that these folks will want the senior center completely funded by the city. Just a guess.