There has been no shortage of drama in Hutchinson since the night of the City of Hutchinson’s successful sales tax referendum on March 3.
That very night, a resident urged the city council to look into absorbing the Hutchinson Recreation Commission. That led to the revelation of extensive friction between city and Hutch Rec officials and an overflowing crowd at the latest city council meeting.
Since then, City Council Member Stacy Goss made public statements about being sidelined on the issue of data centers. And the latest episode of “As Hutchinson Turns” features discussion of the appropriateness of a video the city commissioned and that video’s unauthorized use of footage by a local videographer.
These things are real, relevant issues, but it is easy to get wrapped up in the drama for its own sake, above and beyond the issues’ relevance. That is a trap.
Getting caught up in the drama of certain issues can risk blinding you to other serious issues. Most local government, business and community issues with the largest effects on residents are pretty dry matters, not the stuff of watercooler talk. The condition of water and sewer infrastructure, for example, matters—regardless of whether there is juicy gossip to be had about it.
Another potential trap is letting drama of that sort push you into cynicism—the instinct to think that if these matters are blowing up so much, you shouldn’t get too hopeful for positives.
Reflexive cynicism is a defense mechanism. If you always expect the worst, you won’t be disappointed in the end. It’s also easy to the point of laziness. You don’t have to do the work to understand things, just go with the default assumption that everything is bad.
That is plainly not true. We barely have to go out the door of our office to see one of the many signs of positive progress in our community. Looking north on Main Street, we can see the ongoing work on the Meyer Landmark building. Fewer than five years ago, the city had to temporarily close two blocks of Main Street to traffic on a dangerously windy day because of debris blowing off of the long-vacant building. But now it is a matter weeks away from reopening to its first tenants.
Likewise, the new YMCA facility on North Lorraine Street is set to open in a little more than a month. The Lil’ Hawks Child Care Center has its ribbon-cutting ceremony next Tuesday. And the positives in the community aren’t limited to things that are weeks away or involve construction or lots of money. Last weekend, groups put in around 1,000 volunteer hours to help neighbors who needed a hand around the house or yard during United Way Community Work Day. Good things are happening; progress is happening. Pretending otherwise is unhelpful.
We aren’t saying not to pay attention to the drama and the issues it surrounds. They can be meaningful issues, and the drama can tell you things about the people involved.
But don’t get caught up in the drama for its own sake. It isn’t “Days of Our Lives” or “Real Housewives of Reno County.” Pay attention to the actual issues underlying the drama.
And keep things in perspective, too. There are and will continue to be good things happening in the community, regardless of whatever drama is also going on.
– The Hutchinson Tribune Editorial Board