An old adage touts that the business of finding fault is very easy, and that of doing better is difficult. Your coverage of the Nehemiah Project overlooked every positive aspect of the project and gave your readers a false depiction of its intent.This project has one purpose only and that is to kick-start redevelopment into a community that is in need. The news story incorrectly painted the target area of this project as 10th and Clydesdale and that since Solutia properties are involved that this is purely a Solutia project. Since its inception, the target area of this project has always been all of West Anniston. The Solutia properties are designated to be catalysts that would create the initial inertia to sweep additional redevelopment activities beyond 10th and Clydesdale over into the rest of the community. Even though this statement was repeated publicly, this important fact was ignored in your coverage.
This project would also create the West Anniston Community Development Corporation (WACDC) that would be centered in West Anniston. The direction of the non-profit group would be provided through an executive director and a board of directors, many of whom would be residents that live or work in West Anniston. The WACDC would benefit from the created inertia and would develop future projects for the rest of its target area ... all of West Anniston. The newly renovated West Anniston Business Center (formerly the Sunshine Laundry) would eventually be donated to the WACDC giving them the credibility and financial leverage that is associated with real property. This statement was repeated, but it too did not get mention in any of the coverage.
This project has little to do with Solutia and more to do with the collective desires of a community that is looking for direction to see it improved. This project has the support of elected officials, the Chamber of Commerce, and even many residents. The intent of the press conference was to introduce the project to the rest of the community and solicit community support. The solicitation statement was audibly clear, yet missing in the coverage. Several residents in attendance heard the statement and called later asking how they can help.
I believe that destiny is not by chance, but by choice and this project will give the residents the empowerment to roll up their sleeves and get actively involved in molding and shaping the future of this community. This initiative is not new and has worked in other communities across this country and can work here. This project can attract new jobs. It can inject higher education, new job skills, and new sense of pride. In your analysis to find fault, you raced right past these true by products of this endeavor.
Whether we like each other or not, we are joined at the hip and share mutual responsibilities to the many people that we come in contact with daily. As a newspaper, you have a right and responsibility to report information to your readers that is factual and true. As citizens of this community, we both share the responsibility to make this community a better place to live. My head tells me that you will not share these important facts with your readers, but my heart tells me that, like the Nehemiah Project, anything is possible if we just believe.
The business of finding fault is very easy . . . and that of doing better is very difficult. This may be a difficult task, but not insurmountable if we work together. God Bless.
David Cain
Plant Manager, Solutia
