I was at a planning board meeting until 11:00 last night hearing expert testimony by the developer who wants to put in a bank at our corner.

Individuals who protest changes at the local level have gotten a bad rap. Sure, that same instinct to preserve property value has led to discrimination. People have refused to allow disadvantaged people or people of color into their neighborhood, and there is no excuse for that.

But this same instinct to protection one’s self-interest also drives people to stop business from polluting the nearby streams and rivers. Local home owners stop the local greedy politicians from getting hand outs from corrupt business owners. They stop local politicians whose only idea of progress is expanding business, rather than improving quality of life. They agitate for the improvement of schools.

I had some fun questioning the developer’s experts yesterday. In September, when the planning board reconvenes, I’ll have some more fun explaining why the corner lot should be residential.

However, the reality that we might lose our shirt on our house isn’t so fun. This morning, I e-mailed the town council and sent a letter to the local newspaper.