It came as no surprise that the state Ethics Commission shot down Direct PAC’s latest attempt to censor public speech from those with whom they disagree. The pro-development-at-any-cost political action committee tried to use official ethics charges with the state Ethics Commission to intimidate local residents from speaking out on issues that are of concern to all of us.

I truly appreciate the First Amendment and the rights we have been given as citizens of the United States. Developer interests like Direct PAC have actually put my “rights” to the test on a couple of occasions.

Those in opposition to controlled growth have responded with everything from lawsuits, arrest warrants and state ethics charges to keep their transgressions out of the public domain. Anyone willing to employ these kinds of intimidation tactics to silence public comment must be up to no good. Their goal is concealing the truth.

Certain parties like the Chamber of Commerce, the former Peachtree City mayors and Direct PAC perpetuated the lies that led to a $34 million SPLOST shortfall for Peachtree City through their public statements, phony educational forums and actions of intimidation against those who dared to speak against them.

People like the ones pushing the big box stores and the TDK Extension through, even though the evidence clearly points to many damaging affects for Peachtree City and all of Fayette County, demonstrate they care about little beyond their own personal well-being.

The battle is really one of organized plundering versus community values. What is viewed as a dismantling of our quality of life is deemed a financial opportunity by others. Author Upton Sinclair said it best, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it.”

I will respectfully disagree with Peachtree City’s Westside Impact Fee Committee member Scott Bradshaw and say transparency in government is paramount. Government-appointed committees which address municipal fees and public infrastructure should not meet in private, especially with the representatives from the affected developers sitting at the table. This particular committee has a significant lack of real citizen/taxpayer advocacy which should be cause for an even higher level of public scrutiny.

If you live in Peachtree City and you need a selfish reason to get involved, please know the dishonest actions of a few are costing you millions upon millions of tax dollars. The illegal loans from the Development Authority alone cost us $1.4 million after the City Council decided to pay them off with our tax dollars. TDK will make the cost of the illegal loans look like chump change.

When good people turn away, fail to speak out or believe they cannot make a difference, the things we appreciate the most will begin to disappear. Being lukewarm citizens – neither hot nor cold – produces a weak culture where our rights can be discarded because we have no longer seen fit to defend them.

I harbor no anger toward the Direct PAC, the former mayors and their developer friends. They have the right to fight for their cause just like the rest of us, and they show up for their causes. Instead, my heart aches from the large number of lukewarm people who think it is someone else’s job to protect our community and the rights we enjoy.

The old quotation, “The surest way for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing,” rings truer today than ever before.

You and your family (bring your children and introduce them to representative democracy) need to attend the April 19 City Council meeting at 7 p.m. and let the council know we do not need a rezoning for a Super Lowe’s big box on Ga. Highway 74.

This is the same Super Lowe’s developer who was so confident that Mayor Logsdon could push his comprehensive-plan-violating project through that they began selling out parcel lots before the Planning Commission had a chance to vote on it. However, after a robust citywide turnout from homeowners, the commission gave it a 4-0 thumbs down.

The council also needs to know you oppose the extension of TDK, especially with all the negative traffic data and high infrastructure costs associated with the project.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, e-mail your opinion to council@peachtree-city.org. The small amount of time you invest now protects your future for years to come.

Steve Brown

Peachtree City, Ga.

[Brown was mayor for four years prior to the current Mayor Harold Logsdon.]