Concerned citizens meet
Dear editor:
I attended the Concerned Citizens Coalition meeting Thursday at 5:30 at the Garland County Library with about 70 other concerned citizens. The CCC had several wonderful, informative speakers, some from other coordinated groups in Hot Springs, along with a wonderful video slide presentation of data, consisting of facts and information. You may view these at the website.
The data dealt with concerns many citizens view and understand are real continual problems in our city that need fixing, and should be a priority, in order to meet the needs and concerns of the taxpayers that live here. To mention a few, they were the high crime rate in Hot Springs, compared to the nation and other cities, infrastructure failures (roads, water loss due to broken infrastructure, lack of good paying jobs, it went on and on).
Of course, city officials who wanted to avoid the truth did not show up to answer questions on how can we fix and prioritize these lifelong failures and concerns. They just avoided our request to come. The crux of why we were there in the first place, to present information and communicate needs, and share solutions and priorities.
This was the first thing mentioned in the program, the problem of not having a voice or dialogue with those who should work with the concerned taxpayers and the citizens’ true needs not being addressed or considered, but the catering to visitors and tourists above the needs of the H.S. citizens.
In true form, that flabbergasted many of us, after all the facts and figures were presented and our obvious disgust for all the wasted pet projects of the numerous parks and extensive bike trails, etc., of which the taxpayers, the elderly and working weary are subject to maintain forever. For who and why?
Our Rep. Cozart stood up and confronted the audience with (paraphrased): You don’t know what you’re talking about, we need these bike trails everywhere, because it will bring young people into Hot Springs. To what end? We do not have jobs for the young people graduating within Garland County now! He quickly excused himself, no questions please.
I’d like to know how many retirees and hardworking H.S. citizens can be using all these bike trails all day long? Maybe our drug dealers, molesters, robbers, homeless, etc.? And, there you have it.
Unless we vote better and change the outcomes, this will be it. Do you like it?
Now, if you like this kind of representation, then do nothing. Or join those who do not and would like a change. We need to get rid of the seagulls. The Lord knows we need a new kind of mindset if we ever want to do away with the corruption that has plagued Hot Springs. E.J. Echols Hot Springs