The lyrics to Jason Aldean’s hit “Try That in a Small Town” are a kind of rallying cry for the promotion of small towns in America. If you want to sing, you need a strong voice.
Let’s face it: Even in small-town America, too many people choose to stay quiet, under the false assumption that their concerns, if voiced, will fall on deaf ears. And then there are people like Gabe Merando of Elm City, North Carolina.
In a time of rising taxes, excessive government overreach, and feelings of individual helplessness, a lone voice breaks the silence of Elm City Hall and demands accountability.
Much like Paul Revere warned of the invasion of British troops, Mr. Merando warned the residents and the Board of Directors that the entire meeting they were attending was marred by misconduct on the part of the Board of Directors (“Elm City approves “largest tax increase in city history”(Front page, June 28.) He says the budget passed June 25, which includes a 10-cent tax increase over the previously submitted budget bill, violates North Carolina general law.
As loud as his voice may have been that night, it fell on deaf ears. So Mr. Merando filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in hopes of stopping the Elm City Board of Commissioners’ actions that night.
Small town America needs more Gabe Merandos.
Russell Michael
Wilson
