At the heart of community journalism lies the process of bringing to light the most important issues and concerns of the residents who live and work within its limits. As the Village of Garden City swears in a newly elected board of trustees this week, it is a perfect time to remember what local government is all about – an exchange of ideas.
As the editor of this paper, I have attended nearly hundreds of meetings from the village board of trustees and school board to the Environmental Advisory Board. I’ve seen voices come together to effect change in a profound way. While many of the same vocal residents come every week to offer their take on myriad issues, there’s room for more voices on subjects as broad as what to do with St. Paul’s to the increase in air traffic noise over the village.
As the school budget season comes to a close this spring, a budget hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 8. All residents have a wonderful opportunity to learn pertinent information about how their tax dollars are being spent and offer opinions about what they value most in their schools and community. So if you have a few hours to spare, attend a community meeting or two … I’ll see you there.
— Melissa Argueta
