Common Sense, Salisbury, N.C.
♦ An editorial in Saturday’s 6/28/14 Salisbury Post implies wrongdoing existed simply because the Salisbury Post was not included early on in the talks of a real property exchange, in order to secure a downtown location for the new Central Office. The editorial writer should keep in mind the Wallace Family is involved in the investment and the real property exchange that will facilitate the Central Office at 504 North Main Street. The Post’s editorial writer best realize that requiring the Wallace family’s financial investments to be revealed prematurely could have endangered the deal. And with the limited liability corporation spearheaded by Clay Lindsey and Jake Alexander, there are three very prominent families engaged in a public-private partnership that will enable the county and the school system to move forward. Sometimes, the needs of the many (the public school system) outweigh the needs of the few (Salisbury Post reporters).
The school system was smart to enlist the assistance of a private corporation in which Jake Alexander is a principal player, too. There is an obvious need for the exchanged property on North Ellis Street to have a fully-functional, modern bridge across the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, if any commercial or nonprofit venture is to succeed at the location of the Ellis Street School property. Mr. Alexander was appointed to the N.C. Board of Transportation by Gov. Pat McCrory in January 2013, to represent Transportation Division 9, which includes Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Rowan, and Stokes counties. So if anyone could fast-track a modern bridge that is badly needed, it seems the project is in quite capable hands.
The NIMBY’s along North Ellis Street should not thwart progress. Nor should they work against the establishment families who stepped up to the plate, to bring progress to the City of Salisbury at a time when progress is badly needed. To paraphrase Shakespeare, sometimes the best part of valor really is discretion. That could apply to the North Ellis Street NIMBY’s, as well as to the editorial writer.
