Editorial Opinion from The Union

Cassano: Conscientious worker worthy of our respect

Andy Cassano has been involved, in one way or another, with almost every contentious land-use and planning issue in Nevada County during the past two decades, and yet the planner is almost universally respected in the community. How can this be possible?

The answer is simple to deliver, difficult to achieve and worthy of emulation by anyone with an interest in public affairs. Cassano respects the people with whom he works, no matter what position they may be taking on the hot public issue of the moment.

Respect is reflected in the face of Cassano during discussion of an issue. He listens respectfully. Some participants in land-use debates through the years have grown heated, particularly during his service as the contracted planner for Nevada City, and some have screamed at Cassano. He has continued to listen respectfully no matter what.

When the time comes to speak, Cassano again shows respect. He makes his case - but he recognizes the possibility that the other guy has legitimate interests as well. He doesn't seek to score debating points or beat his opponents into the ground. He clearly knows that we all will continue to live together in a small community at the end of the day. Harsh words have a long life in a small town - sometimes outliving those who spoke them as well as those who first heard them.

Because Cassano respects those with whom he works, he seeks to find consensus that will meet the desires of as many people as possible. He is adept at identifying the many attributes of Nevada County that we all value and focusing on them rather than drawing attention to the much smaller number of issues that divide us.

Those who seek to polarize and divide the community into warring camps may win the applause of zealots such as themselves. But those who seek consensus on our future are the people who are truly valuable to a community. Andy Cassano is a valuable member of the community, and we are fortunate that he is among us.

Published here by permission of Nevada County's Leading Source of News and Commerce serving the greater Grass Valley/Nevada City region: The Union.