In light of last week’s unwelcome label by two publications calling Franklin “the worst city in Virginia” — a title we vigorously dispute — the timing of the two upcoming town hall meetings is fortuitous.

These sessions are not immediate reactions to the article, but were were actually born out of a weekend Franklin City Council workshop at the start of the month. Nonetheless, public participation is especially important. We’ll even go so far as to say it’s crucial that residents “share their thoughts and vision for the future of the City of Franklin,” as City Manager Amanda Jarratt stated recently.

The first meeting will begin at 7 p.m. this Thursday, May 23, and will be in the Regional Workforce Development Center of Paul D. Camp Community College Workforce Development Center. The second town hall session is scheduled for the same time on Tuesday, June 11, at the same venue. For more information, call the city administration at 562-8505.

These meetings will be ideal opportunities for you to not merely verbalize your reactions to the label, but more importantly to suggest viable ideas on making Franklin a better place to live in the years and decades to come.

This is our city and we can shape its future to go from the worst to the best city in Virginia.