"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
This is our 82nd SpeakOut in 2009.
In our editorials, we've given atta-boys, slapped wrists, questioned policies and honored those deserving.
We started the year saying North Carolina's education lottery needed to actually start going towards education.
We encouraged the smoking ban.
We told incoming Governor Beverly Perdue we'd be watching.
Jury's still out on whether she'll finish 485...
But the outer belt was a hot topic for us in January, June and November.
We pointed out the politics behind the Governor of South Carolina's rejection of the stimulus.
We then criticized Mark Sanford for leaving no one in charge when he skipped over to Argentina.
We said CMS needs more teachers.
We still believe that to be true.
We implored parents to open their eyes.
Underage drinking. Sexting. Gangs.
Check your teenagers' wallets for fake I-Ds, their cell phones for nude pictures and their notebooks for graffiti.
Veterans Day was one of our favorite SpeakOuts.
I think you'd be hard-pressed to find people more deserving of honor and respect than those who fought for our country.
On the flip side...ever heard of the revolving door of crime in Mecklenburg County?
It fires......me.......up.
Stop putting repeat offenders back on the streets.
Please.
That's something we begged in both April and November.
But the issue we wrote the most editorials about was the school system soap opera in Burke County.
Could there have possibly been any more drama?
Hopefully, the new regime will get the district on track.
I think we can all agree it was a more difficult year than most....We've tried to document it and be a mouthpiece for the community.
Because WBTV is "On Your Side," we encourage everyone to "Speak Out" – tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
