The dedicated deputies of the Ross County Sheriff’s Office are being forced to play a twisted game of musical chairs with their personal vehicles, all thanks to the petty and profit-driven decision of Mayor Luke Feeney to install parking meters outside the law enforcement complex in downtown Chillicothe. This egregious display of nickel-and-diming has exposed a shocking level of hypocrisy and a complete lack of common sense in the city’s leadership.
It’s mind-boggling that while the city’s hardworking taxpayers are already burdened with funding the maintenance and paving of the very streets they rely on, they are now being slapped with an additional fee just to park their vehicles on those same streets. The streets that citizens have been paying to maintain for years have now become literal cash cows for the city, with Mayor Feeney seemingly more interested in padding the coffers than in serving the needs of his constituents. It’s ironic that the mayor wants to bring up double-taxiation with respect to the city paying for jail inmates (when state law clearly says he has to pay anyway) when taxpayers pay to pave the streets, yet have to pay to park on them, too?
But the most ludicrous aspect of this parking fiasco is the sight of our deputy Sheriffs – those sworn to protect and serve our community – frantically scrambling every two hours to relocate their personal vehicles to avoid the dreaded parking tickets. The sheer absurdity of this situation cannot be overstated. Instead of focusing on their vital law enforcement duties, these deputies are forced to engage in a demeaning game of parking musical chairs, lest they fall victim to the city’s insatiable greed.
The farcical climax of this absurd play unfolds as our deputy Sheriffs – the valiant protectors of justice – are relegated to a tragicomic dance of desperation. Every two hours, these gallant enforcers of the law are forced to abandon their posts and engage in a humiliating vehicular shuffle to evade the mayor’s relentless ticketing frenzy. What a spectacle it is to witness those who solemnly swore to uphold order now rendered as mere marionettes, jerked about by Mayor Feeney’s money-grubbing strings.
Sheriff George Lavender’s revelation that he himself has had to shell out money to pay parking tickets for his deputies is a glaring testament to the absolute lack of consideration and respect shown by Mayor Feeney. One would think that the city’s mayor would have the sense to prioritize the seamless operation of his department, rather than serving as an unwilling accomplice to the city’s money-grabbing scheme.
The mayor’s conspicuous absence from discussions on this matter speaks volumes about his disregard for the very individuals who put their lives on the line to keep our streets safe. It’s not lost on us that Mayor Feeney only managed to grace a meeting with his presence when he decided to launch into a tirade against the very issue he had created. His late arrival and subsequent grandstanding only underscore his blatant disregard for meaningful dialogue and his penchant for empty political theater.
If Mayor Feeney can so readily manipulate the enforcement of laws to suit his own interests, as evidenced by his directive to spare certain individuals from zoning enforcement — landing the city in a lawsuit — then surely he has the capacity to extend the same courtesy to the deputies who protect his city day in and day out. Issuing parking permits for law enforcement officers and instructing parking enforcement not to target those who are carrying out their duties is not rocket science. It’s common sense.
Mayor Feeney’s astonishingly convenient absence from the conversation is more telling than any scripted dialogue could ever be. His sudden appearance, adorned with self-righteous indignation, only highlights his flair for dramatics. It’s as if he’s rehearsed his lines to perfection, channeling his inner Shakespearean antagonist to rail against the very monster he has created. Bravo, Mayor Feeney, for your masterful performance of governance theater!
As we approach an election year, let us hope that the citizens of Chillicothe educate themselves about the facts surrounding this flagrant display of profiteering at the expense of those who serve and protect. We deserve leadership that prioritizes the well-being of our community over lining their own pockets, and it’s high time for a change. The hypocrisy, double standards, and penny-pinching tactics have no place in a city that deserves better.
Come November, it’s time for Chillicothe to make its voice heard and vote for a future that values integrity, common sense, and a commitment to justice – not a future marred by parking meters and the blatant disregard for the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping our streets safe — streets they cannot even park on.