MUSING FROM THE RIVERFRONT...
6-26-09
We were surprised at the skepticism evident in the Selma Times-Journal blog of June 25 about the Riverfront Park. A number of people seem to think it will be another place for thugs, criminals, and the unsavory to gather and create mayhem on the public- if the public goes there. We are willing to give the development a chance to improve Selma; however, we would like for the Community Development Department of the City to tell us if the first phase -the walkway- is going to have lights on it when it is opened. We heard that though lights were planned that they would NOT be a part of this phase. We would appreciate the city's CD department letting us know if there will be lights or not. If there are NO lights when the walkway is opened, we suggest everyone stay away from the Park near and after dark.
Speaking of thugs and criminals, we understand that one PAPA JOHNS DRIVER has already been mugged and robbed in east Selma. We know this could have happened anywhere in the city, but it is certainly more likely to happen where this driver was than elsewhere in the city. In most cities, there are actually areas where deliveries are NOT made. We are saddened that crime is so rampant in this city that this may have to be the case in Selma.
We understand that Fire Chief Henry Allen will be the second holdover from the Perkins administration to leave the city's employ. Allen has told members of his departent that September 30 will be his last day. We pray that Mayor Evans, who will appoint the Fire Chief himself without council approval, will appoint a competent Fire Chief. We continue to urge Mayor Evans to appoint HIS OWN PEOPLE as department heads and remove those whose loyalties are NOT WITH HIM. The Perkins appointees who continue to run the day to day operations of the City are Attorney Jimmy Nunn, Personnel Director Val Jones, Code Enforcement Director Daryl Moore, CD Director Charlotte Griffith, Police Chief Riley, Cemetary Superintendent Willie Peoples, and especially Finance Director Cynthia Mitchell, whom the City Council should remove. The others are appointed and serve solely at the descretion of Mayor Evans. Any company who had a chief financial officer like Mitchell and kept her after what the auditors say about her finance department year after year would be bankrupt by now.
BOND ISSUE: We have seen the proposed - and we emphasize proposed because NOTHING has been decided about what will be in the Bond Issue- items for the bond issue. If Mayor Evans wants the Bond Issue defeated, he can just leave the $28,000 for a new roof on the Good Sam Hospital- A BUILDING THE CITY DOES NOT EVEN OWN- in the Bond Issue. Why should taxpayers of Selma put a roof on this building which is owned by the STATE OF ALABAMA? If it needs a new roof, LET THE STATE PAY FOR IT. We urge the City Council to make this the first proposal removed from the Bond Issue to be presented to the voters on October 27.
