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Letters to the editor are opinion editorials submitted by readers. Letters to the editor are a long tradition in American journalism. The views and opinions of the writer do not necessarily reflect those of Mason County Press, its staff or its parent company. For more information, please refer to MCP’s Letter to the Editor Policy.
Dear Editor,
I stand firmly with Ludington Police Chief Chris Jones. His recent letter to the community deserves more than our attention. It demands that we confront an uncomfortable question: What kind of community are we when public servants and their families are subjected to personal attacks and intimidation simply for doing their jobs?
See Chief Jones’ letter to the editor here.
This is about more than Chief Jones. It is about the growing hostility and distrust dividing Ludington, and whether we are willing to do something about it.
Chief Jones came to Ludington knowing that our police department needed stronger leadership, professional development and a renewed commitment to community policing. He has worked hard to accomplish those goals. There have been mistakes and setbacks along the way, as he readily acknowledges. But I believe our police department is stronger and more professional because of his leadership.
As a city council member, I expect the chief, our city manager, our employees and myself to be held accountable. Public scrutiny, criticism and disagreement are not only legitimate; they are essential to good government. I have never believed that holding public office entitles anyone to immunity from criticism.
But there is a difference between criticism and cruelty, between accountability and intimidation, between challenging someone’s decisions and attacking their personal life and family.
Publishing the police chief’s home address and a map to his residence, particularly given the circumstances he describes, crosses that line. What possible public interest is served? What government policy is illuminated? What wrongdoing is exposed? None that I can see. And while Chief Jones is the immediate target, this is about far more than one individual.
Over the past several weeks, I have been thinking a great deal about the divisions within our community. We have witnessed angry disagreements over city policies, personal attacks on elected officials and city employees, and a growing tendency to view those with whom we disagree as adversaries rather than neighbors.
Chief Jones also raises another troubling issue — Ludington’s reputation for being slow to accept newcomers. That is the exact opposite of the “Welcome to Ludington” statement on the city’s website, which states, “Welcome to Ludington, Michigan, where the charm of a small-town meets the beauty of the Great Lakes. Explore pristine beaches, historic lighthouses, and a vibrant downtown as you immerse yourself in the warmth and hospitality of our community.”
There is a difference between taking pride in our community and treating those who were not born or raised here with suspicion, as though they must continually prove they belong. That attitude does not strengthen our community; it breeds distrust, discourages new ideas and perspectives, and only deepens the rift between us. We cannot talk seriously about bringing our community together while making some of our neighbors feel like outsiders.
I do not suggest that residents should be less passionate, less outspoken or less demanding of their government. Quite the opposite. I want more public participation, more questions, more debate and more people willing to challenge the decisions we make.
But I also want us to remember that we are one community. We may disagree about how Ludington should be governed, how our tax dollars should be spent or what priorities our city should pursue. Those disagreements are healthy. The contempt and personal hostility that increasingly accompany them are not.
And those of us who serve in government have a particular responsibility. We must listen, acknowledge mistakes, treat criticism with respect and resist the temptation to respond to anger with more anger. We cannot ask residents to demonstrate civility unless we are willing to demonstrate it ourselves.
Chief Jones ended his letter with three words: “Enough is enough.” I could not agree more. Enough of the personal attacks. Enough of the intimidation. Enough of the name-calling. Enough of treating public servants and fellow residents as enemies simply because we disagree.
But saying enough is not enough. We must be willing to change how we treat one another, how we welcome those who choose to make Ludington their home and how we confront our differences. Those of us entrusted with public office have a particular obligation to lead by example, acknowledge our mistakes and work to restore the trust that has been damaged.
The divisions in our community will not disappear simply because a contentious issue is resolved or a public meeting ends. The rift remains, and unless we make a deliberate effort to repair it, it will continue to define us.
We have a choice. We can continue down a path of suspicion, hostility and division, or we can begin the harder work of rebuilding trust, restoring respect and remembering that, whatever our differences, Ludington belongs to all of us. The question is not whether we can do better. It is whether we have the courage and the will to do so.
John Terzano
Ludington City Councilor-at-Large
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