When they came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist.

When they locked up the Jews, I remained silent; I was not a Jew.

When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out. — (Origin is unclear. Various versions have been attributed to several authors.)

The developers have used a divide and conquer strategy in Peachtree City to achieve their goal of turning our fair city into a giant shopping center.

When the Wal-Mart/Home Depot complex was proposed, west side residents fought it. For everyone else, ho hum.

When the Kedron expansion was proposed, north side residents were up in arms. For everyone else, ho hum.

Now, another big box is proposed on industrial zoned property in the south and the residents across the street are concerned. For everyone else, it’s what development?

Our citizens need to wake up and realize that if they don’t collectively fight development anywhere in the city that they would fight if it were proposed for their neighborhood, eventually they will get that unwanted development in every neighborhood.

If you don’t want a big box store on the east side or or at Hwy. 54 and Peachtree Parkway, or any other place where there isn’t one now, then you need to let your city council know that you don’t want one on the south side or another one on the west side.

Stop this development now, before our city becomes unrecognizable.

Robert Brown

Peachtree City, Ga.