Midland's "South Side"
Category: Local...
Posted Thursday, August 14, 2003 at 09:26 AM [GMT-6]

As a sometimes cynical and critical -- but nevertheless regular -- consumer of the local newspaper's content, I think it's only fair for me to give credit for the really good things they do, and this week's series on Midland's neglected "South Side" is an excellent example.

The neglect of one area of a city in favor of another is not unique to Midland, and, in fact, is probably not as bad here as in some other places. There are socioeconomic and political forces in play that we somehow feel powerless to define, much less control. The realization that this is, nevertheless, a situation that can be solved carries equal parts of optimism and despair -- the latter because the historical odds are against it, and the former because the solutions start with informed and interested people.

The Reporter-Telegram has done a good job in giving us the information. It remains to be seen how interested the citizenry will become in doing something about it.

Here's a practical tip on how to put feet to any desire you may have to get involved. Monitor the Keep Midland Beautiful website for the announcement of the dates of the second phase of the "Dead Tree Removal" project described in today's MRT, then show up to help. The whole of Midland -- not just the South Side -- will be a better place for your involvement.