6 • Aug 2 - 4, 2020 OPINION Dear Branson Community, Thank You all for your input and for caring about our community. The Branson Board of Aldermen and I have received hundreds upon hundreds of e-mails, texts, social media comments and messages, and telephone calls regarding COVID-19 and face coverings. I have responded to as many as I could. The majority of the feedback I have received has been from those who recognize that face coverings are the best option. I am proud of our Board of Aldermen who took action to slow the spread of Kim Rohde Publisher (417) 872-2951 lkimrohde@yahoo.com Brenda Meadows Editor & Staff Writer (417) 231-7601 info@BransonGlobe.com David Stoltz News Correspondent (228) 355-2900 ltcdls@gmail.com Gary Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull Columnist Emeritus KD Michaels Staff Writer (417) 251-2776 kdmichaelsbranson1@gmail.com Rob Doherty Account Representative & Distribution Manager (504) 583-8907 robd@bransonglobe.com Karen Halfpop Digital/Production Director production@ BransonGlobe.com Letters to the editor that are sent via e-mail and are fewer than 400 words are given preference. Published or unpublished letters become the property of the newspaper and will not be returned. All letters must include name, address, and verifiable phone number. LETTERS Who represents the people? Does the current Board of Aldermen represent people & businesses in Branson or their own personal interest? Prior to our last Aldermen election in Branson, we had a divided board. There seemed to be three conservatives and three liberals. They couldn’t agree and it seemed like every vote was a 3-3 tie; and the Mayor would side with the liberals. With changes in Board of Alderman chairs, the board seems overwhelmingly in the control of the Mayor now. Larry Milton appears to be the only Alderman who has steadfastly held and debated conservative Sadly, Branson has been singled out in headlines recently as a “hot spot” for COVID-19. While the numbers of COVID-19 cases in Taney County are rising, I do not agree with this assessment. Media outlets use percentages based on the population of our area and fail to add in the thousands of visitors that are continuing to come to our City to the total baseline. If you’ve been around town Edd Akers. (FILE) COVID-19 rather than do nothing. Our mandate runs to September 8th, 2020, and will be continually reviewed. principles! His campaign was to “bring reason, logic and common sense to the table” and he has done it with great character, against great frustration. In regard to Mandatory Masks, Milton was the only Alderman to vote against it. In regard to the Abstention Ordinance, again Milton stood firm. How about the ordinance to prevent City Staff from talking to Board Members about grievances? Yes, Mr. Milton was the only Alderman to vote “no” and protect the rights of Staff to have protection against City Administrators that offend them. So again: Does the current lately, you know, our visitor traffic is steady and getting better. This, combined with the passage of the face covering ordinance and the swift action our City Hall Board of Aldermen represent the people of Branson? Are they prepared to listen to the businesses who are working hard to create a sustainable economy? Their campaign slogans boasted “the city needs someone who can communicate and bring people together for the citizens of Branson”, “we need to draw people here with new attractions”, “get the city back to work.” Rubbish. Empty promises. Mayor Akers probably put it best when he promised, “I think we’ll see a different City of Branson over the next 2 years.” Boy, is it different. bransonglobe.com Mayor’s Moment: A message to the community from Mayor Edd Akers Administration took in March to revise the budget accordingly, is a positive sign for our community. I am encouraged by where we are currently and will continue to keep the health and safety of our community a priority while keeping our economy strong. For those who pray, I solicit your prayers for discernment and the wisdom of all city employees and elected officials so that we may keep the people we serve in the center of our focus. Thank you for letting me serve you, Mayor Edd Akers You have not listened to the people who are on the front lines of the economy. You have listened to people who work in medicine and make money through illness. You have listened to departments and interest groups that have enormous job security. You have cowered to social media lizards who prey on hard-working people from the comfort of their screens. You have become emotionally engaged with very fearful people. We are on the ground: we talk to our customers every day and ask their opinions. We might SEE LETTERS, PAGE 7 (The comments on these pages are the opinions of the writer, and not necessarily those of Branson Globe, or its staff. Want to weigh-in? Have something to say? Share it with us in your own Letter to the Editor. See submission guidelines in lower left corner of page 6.) 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