Look what Starkville under Lynn Spruill has done on the national scene for two years in a row or back to back. What are we missing in Columbus? As a stakeholder, business owner, taxpayer and employer, I know firsthand that we need new leadership at City Hall to change the public perception of our city leaders willfully showing a lack of transparency, a propensity for overspending taxpayers’ dollars, a glaring incompetence on vital issues, and so many decision-making inefficiencies that delay progress.
We have so many business and cultural assets. The main things I see missing in this town are a positive image, a can-do attitude, community connectivity to city leaders, public/private partnerships, and a willingness to work together at City Hall beyond egos. Our lack of effective business development training, business retention skills, liaisons and assertive political leadership is keeping us from reaching our truest potential.
There is glaring incompetence when it comes to proper city management and proactive planning for emergencies like the recent flooding event from the current group of city managers. The City Council has a propensity for overspending taxpayers’ dollars on things like the failed annexation, the chicane, the amphitheater, expensive trips, Propst Park, street lights, personal salaries… while charging the city taxpayers the largest tax increase in the city’s history. Then, to compound those matters, there was the filing of frivolous lawsuits in the Ward 2 election to prevent qualified candidates from running for office and retaining costly attorneys to fight the annexation.
On top of all that, we have the improper use of ARPA funds without getting a $6.1 million dollar match for flood-prone areas of the city. That still haunts this administration, as we witnessed horrendous flooding throughout our city recently. Some of this could have been alleviated with preventive corrective measures beforehand, rather than arguing over what should have been done after the flood.
The amphitheater — another giant fiasco — has been sitting inoperable and in a deplorable state for eight long years since 2017, with most of this same inefficient and partying group of politicians in office back then. All we hear is a lot of meaningless talk and some saber rattling at the 11th hour right before the June 3 election for mayor. It has been deteriorating and inoperable for quite some time now and remains an eyesore.
“Out with the old and in with the new leadership” to move this city in a unified direction!
Vote Bill Strauss for Mayor of the City of Columbus, the Friendly City.
Larry Watson
Columbus
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