If the city holds another election, who pays for that, and how much would that new plan cost taxpayers? How long can taxpayers wait, and how long will it take to develop and deploy a new working plan? Will residents remain in Pine Bluff or move to a better, cleaner city? How can the city tackle these additional problems and fill the gaps that GFPB fills now without funding?Ī city on 'growth life support' cannot afford to stop and start over without sliding further toward the point of no return as they grapple with a new plan to be developed and deployed. Let us know how we address sidewalks throughout the city for pedestrian use and remove fallen limbs, overgrown vegetation, debris, etc. The city needs more resources to fully staff the street department for crews to adequately repair streets and potholes and clean ditches to help drainage flow. How do we support teachers and get those first-time home buyers into a new home? If GFPB fails at the ballot box, how do we improve the things started by GFPB? Everyone knows the city needs more funding to keep essential services going. Where will funding be obtained to sustain the city's grant writer, which has brought in millions of dollars of support for this town? Who will take on this task?ģ.

Would as many houses have been razed without GFPB's efforts?Ģ. Do we want to kill GFPB and leave dilapidated and boarded-up houses standing? One boarded home on a block reduces property value by $1,500 to $2,000 for other homeowners on the same block. Therefore, I raise these questions for your consideration:ġ. We all are aware of what happens when there is no funding to run a program.

Some say pull the plug and let it die a slow death, without trying to correct the flaws and deficiencies. Gentle reader, have you noticed lately, Pine Bluff is a city on life support for several reasons, but the main reasons are funding and before GFPB, had no plan. Questions voters should consider during early voting. Pine Bluff's registered voters must decide on the May 9th tax regarding Go Forward Pine Bluff to Vote For or Against.

Deployed by Brenda Cothern