strasburg has its cheerleaders.
not just at strasburg high school.
at town hall too.
BOOMALAKA, BOOMALAKA,
BOOM, BOOM, CLOWN!
LET'S ALL STAND UP,
AND CHEER FOR THE TOWN!
YAY TOWN!!!
other than cheerleading, what does the town of strasburg actually DO for its citizens?
that's a tough one...
what do citizens want from their government?
1. information--timely, accurate information. like when the town won't be picking up trash. NOT posting on facebook 10 minutes before the deadline for putting the trash at the curb. at that point, most residents have taken their trash to the curb. now they have to go drag it back to the house. nice job, town!
another example is the town posting on their facebook page that residents' trash is being recycled into energy. that's simply NOT true. the town's trash goes to shenandoah county's landfill--NOT to a waste-to-energy plant. The United States had only 71 waste-to-energy (WTE) plants in 2015--NONE within 50 miles of strasburg. Waste-to-energy electricity generation concentrated in Florida and Northeast - Today in Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) cheerleading or propaganda? get it right, town!
why is this important? because it affects the town's credibility. for example, if the town lies about residents' trash being recycled into energy, and doesn't answer residents' questions posted on the town's facebook page, then why would residents believe the annual drinking water quality reports that it posts on its website or information that it posts on its facebook page or sends out with the newsletters that accompany the town's water and sewer bills? answer: they won't.
2. to be heard. town residents' want to be HEARD. Melissa Schleig lives in madison heights. she went to a town meeting months ago and voiced her concern. Town park accessibility a challenge for officials | Nvdaily | nvdaily.com ms. schleig's concern is legitimate. what is the town doing to address ms. schleig's legitimate concern? NOTHING. the town has LOTS of reasons for doing NOTHING.
3. ACTION. actions speak louder than words. look around. there's LOTS that the town can be doing for the town's residents and visitors. what have they DONE for them lately? I could go on--convenience (strasburg requires residents to go to town hall PERSONALLY to open a water & sewer account), infrastructure (parks, streets, sidewalks, etc.), maintenance (riverwalk), safety (riverwalk), enforcing dog leash and dog waste cleanup (riverwalk), amenities (restaurants, grocery store), etc.
but, if the town isn't even performing basic services for its citizens and visitors, then what's the point?
historical note: The 1898 Bates-Bowdoin football game that cemented a historic rivalry | News | Bates College
