GENE ROBERTSON: Strategy for countering violence in Columbia needs to be well-planned

In Columbia, the City Council showed admirable political savvy when it decided to reconsider a proposal to create a designation of blight for a portion of the community. The citizens of the city are to be commended for addressing the issue by persuading the council to reconsider the proposal. This example illustrates ideally how democracy can operate. This example is easy compared to another issue occurring in the same city. Citizens organized a demonstration to protest and address violence in the community. The mayor, police chief and other city officials joined this demonstration.