Who is Dragging us down?

In reading the latest issue of "The other Newspaper" I read an unbelievable article bashing the Messenger club in general and myself in particular. I have mixed feelings about some of the writings in the article. I am quite happy that the other newspaper finally realized that our little paper is a cause for concern. I am also quite happy that they are scrambling to confront some of  the issues that The CV Messenger raised in the last few months. Issues that until the advent of the CV Messenger were stonewalled or swept under the rug in the pathetic attempt to portray the village as a perfect paradise, when in reality there were, and still are a lot of objectionable issues that need attention.

The author objects to articles published on the basis that they are not written by a unit owner, as though not being an owner somehow puts renters into the category of second class citizens. To maintain that just because a person does not own property they are not invested in the welfare of the community is absurd, comments that "renters" should  have no status and no voice in the community harkens back to the days of Jim Crow laws and smacks of bigotry and discrimination. Ranting about the people making objections  rather than addressing the issues is the last defense of the scoundrel.

The author goes on to say that the videos and pictures posted on the Internet are a source of embarrassment and are " dragging the village down " I say that if anyone is embarrassed by actual pictures or videos showing stinking fish and rotten vegetation then they should do something about it. Keeping quiet while the fish rot on the shores is not an effective approach to solving anything. The issue of the scummy water was brought to the attention of the administration a year or more before the video was produced. Due to the lack of action and the ignorant attitude of the administration it was decided to show everyone the truth in the hope that they would be embarrassed and do something about it. The same thing can be said for the Sheffield O situation which festered for more than three years .  that's  a situation that would definitely " Drag us down" . The CV Messenger printed the story, suddenly there was a mad  scramble to do something. The Sheffield O issue is finally being  recognized as a threat to the village and something is being done to fix it. Perhaps the author of the article would be inclined to encourage his family to invest in a unit in Sheffield O and live  there despite investing  unknowingly  under the threat of termination and living among a transient population.  Besides: why would you worry about property prices unless you are speculating in the hope of making money rather than enjoying retirement ?

Finally: in response to the question : "Why are you dragging us down ?" I would have to respond by saying I'm not dragging anything down. The recent wasting of millions of dollars in a botched paving job, The stories circulating the village (whether true or not) about the fleecing of residents in repairing the clubhouse after the hurricanes,  the abolition of term limits and candidates debates and the censorship of village media, the loss of the golf course , the scummy water in the lake, the animosity and frustrations at the assemblies, the ignoring of residents pleas for help , the ill treatment of volunteers, the censorship of village media and the imposition of unreasonable regulations regarding clubhouse use , the frivolous spending on the WPRF facilities that can be compared to leasing a car, spending thousands to customize it, then giving it back to the leasing company, and  uncontrolled spending  that goes on and on causing rates to go up and up   are all things that are dragging Century Village down.

 I am motivated to reveal the things that are actually dragging us down to allow others to see the reality and  hope that it will compel  those in a position of authority to do something instead of hiding and ignoring things.

Neil J Moore