Depending on the time, location and subject, public hearings can be sleepy affairs, or they can be contentious events with opponents and proponents engaged in emotional confrontations. While Jim Fink of Business First decries the frequency of "personal attacks" at recent public hearings, he believes the events are important. Fink cites as the most poignant example the public's role in stopping a Bass Pro superstore, allowing for the dynamic growth of the city's waterfront.
Press Pass: Public input influencing local development
