One shot on zoning

Regular readers of The Morgan Messenger know all too well that a small group of letter writers have been arguing zoning, pro and con, in our pages for years. They’ve beat their drums so loudly and so often that most of us have learned to sleep through their racket.

The ground rules are going to have to change since the proposed countywide zoning ordinance will be on the ballot in November. We cannot allow a handful of people to dominate the public debate in our space by sending two letters a month full of the same old stuff. It’s been so long since some of them had anything new to say that the chances they will win new converts are slimmer than a dime.

Since the zoning referendum on November 2 will likely inspire an outpouring of letters, we are beginning a new policy on September 1 for the campaign season.

From September 1 until the November 2 election, we will print no more than one letter about zoning from any individual. No exceptions, no haggling. We are announcing this now so everyone has fair warning. This gives everyone an equal chance to express their opinion.

We are also asking that letter writers refrain from attacking others since there will be little opportunity for reply. Besides, we need to make this a civil debate since we will all have to live with each other afterwards.
So, as of September 1, as people really zero in on the zoning election, letter writers will only get one shot.

Period.