Local citizens need to be seen and heard more

What’s that you say? The people up in Washington D. C. don’t care what you think?

Well think again. Senators and Congressmen are constantly holding area meetings to get input from their constituents. And those meetings are often very poorly attended.

But local people have an opportunity to change that. A member of Sen. David Vitter’s staff will hold a meeting in the courthouse on Monday, June 17 from 12:30 to 2 p. m. which anyone can attend to ask questions or state opinions on matters concerning the federal government. And there will be meetings with our other representatives in the future.

One matter of major concern to St. Charles Parish residents is the future of the long-planned hurricane protection levee on the west bank. With hurricane seasons seeming to be more and more lively, local residents should certainly be eager to put their two cents in to their elected officials, who have great influence over the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers which builds our levees.

Also, Senators and Congressmen have regional offices staffed full time where their constituents can go to state their cases. And they have telephone numbers which can be called at their offices in D. C.

In other parts of the country, people seem to be much more active in contacting their Senators and Congressmen about what they want them to do. And they get a lot of attention in return.

It’s time for the people in southeast Louisiana to do the same. Heaven knows, we certainly deserve a lot of attention with all the oil revenue we give them.

We need to be seen and heard more.