As certain as the groundhog comes out of his hole, peers around and disappears, we have the annual listing of goals by City Council. And, as certain as the groundhog prediction, the goals appear remarkably similar to previous years.

They will now be appropriately published, oohs and ahs from council members will take place, and life will move on. What we have here folks is a failure to execute. We have a council who has done nothing substantive to solve its No. 1 goal, which is the crime rate in Greenville. Here is how it will work this year. The goals are listed with “Promoting a safe community” as No. 1. The council will listen to the chief say that crime is down; they will nod their heads and look serious.

The crime rate statistics will come out that will disclose that crime is up; the chief will again say that crime is down and the council will ignore the numbers or question anybody’s intelligence who disagrees. In the meantime, shootings go up, fast food restaurants continue to get robbed and individuals killed while the council holds hands with police leadership and sings “What a Wonderful World.” We have goals.

In addition, other goals include “Keep planning ahead of anticipated growth” or “Promote this or that.” Say what? Planning and promotion are not defining goals. They are functions. Nowhere do I see a goal that reads “City management will provide needed city services in an effective and efficient manner.” Nowhere. It is going to be, financially, the most difficult budget year in the last 50 years and effectiveness and efficiency are not in the top 10 goals. Are these council people aware of the economy?

But you voted them in. See you next Goal Day, oops, I mean Groundhog Day.

TERRY BOARDMAN

Greenville