My Response to Dr. Falik's Editorial

Response to editorial written by Don Falik, DDS

I’m very disappointed in the remarks by Dr. Falik. He uses terms such as “lynch mob mentality” and how the city council’s job is made difficult by “undemocratic and untruthful” forum which it was presented.

Here are some “facts” that he conveniently left out of his remarks. The Charlotte City Council has comments in their minutes from February of 2005 regarding the expansion of the airport. However, this was not publicized other than in the minutes. The Charlotte City Council did not inform the affected areas nor the people of Charlotte until February of 2007. Most of us that are affected, found out via word of mouth and did not receive any notice in the mail of the open house presentation.

Some, if not most of the areas affected do not have the opportunity to vote for nor against the Charlotte City Council because we do not live in Charlotte, however the City of Charlotte is deciding our future.

I have yet to see a “lynch mob mentality”. In fact, everything I’ve seen everyone has acted in a respectful manner. The protest that went on outside the meeting in February was done peacefully and did not disrupt businesses, people driving by nor the meeting.

If Dr. Falik’s definition of “lynch mob mentality” is that many people attended the meeting and spoke against the proposed airport expansion, relocation and eminent domain use, then we have redefined what constitutes a lynch mob. Disagreement with a position is not only our right, but our duty when elected officials are doing things against the interests of those affected. Nobody has been threatened.

I agree that this has been an undemocratic process, but not from Dr. Falik’s position. I’m in Walton Twp. My neighbors and I are not able to vote for any offices on the Charlotte city council. Yet, they are deciding whether to claim mine and my neighbors property as their own for their own purposes.

Calling those of us in disagreement a lynch mob seems to be using events from a historical period that are shameful to this country and those comments have no place in this issue before all of us now. I prefer another historical reference when it comes to this issue. “Confiscation without Representation”.

Thank you,

Brett Young