Normally I stay out of the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s business, because I haven’t been active in that organization for several years. However, several DNA members have contacted me, asking me to blog about this issue, and I feel compelled to do so.
The DNA’s monthly meeting is tonight at Pearl’s Oyster House (Main at Pontotoc; social at 6:30, program at 7). They will take a very important vote on whether to expand the boundaries of DNA. Current president Cathy Simmons and past president Tommy Volnichak want to expand the association’s boundaries to include the Medical Center district, and even past it, all the way to Watkins in some places. Many members are opposed to this. No one considers the area around Watkins to be part of Downtown. Members feel that expanding to include those neighborhoods will dilute DNA’s focus.
Also, the neighborhoods did not ask to be included in the DNA’s boundaries. If they had, it might be a different matter. Rather, it was presented to the DNA board as a fait accompli by the president and past president.
If you’re a DNA member, tonight at Pearl’s is your one chance to stop this expansion. It’s possible that some expansion of the boundaries needs to be done, but members tell me it needs to be carefully studied and planned, which apparently is not the case here.
That’s the morning post… got more stuff to talk about, but I want this to stay at the top of the blog for a couple of hours. Tigers play at 11:25 AM. I will probably take the laptop to the Saucer and watch the game there.