Chaffee at a leadership crossroads

To the editor:

Over the past 11 years my family has made our home in Chaffee. We have invested our time, money and more than a few tears in an effort to improve our property and livelihoods and ultimately those of our neighbors and community.

During this time we have also sought help through our elected representatives and city employees in numerous attempts to eradicate the substandard property problem through enforcement of existing building codes. These requests have been met with deafening silence, excuses and increased hostility.

The absence of leadership qualities in this country has infected the upper echelons of government and trickled down to our local representatives, resulting in poor performance, a lack of accountability and the disenfranchisement of taxpaying, voting constituents.

The winds of change are howling as Chaffee reaches the proverbial crossroads of its future. Newly elected aldermen, especially the two representatives from Ward 2, have the potential to defy the status quo and make good for the people after years of mediocrity.

I recently asked Chaffee's mayor and city council a question. I now present the same question to all the city's citizens: Is Chaffee a place for you to live, or just a convenient place for you to die?

RICK VANDEVEN, Chaffee, Mo.