While voters today say they want spending to stop, I believe what they are really saying is, “Use our money wisely. Balance your budget like families and businesses do. Keep wealthy influence out of government.” Enter Como.
While we are squeezing every nickel and penny out of the budget, an area of the city that needs the most help is left isolated. Between 1876 and 1965, many municipalities and states enacted Jim Crow laws that required separate public facilities for blacks and whites. Como’s history as a neighborhood comes from those Jim Crow days. Celebrating over 100 years, this proud section of Fort Worth is trying to accomplish what every other neighborhood wants; safe streets, decent schools and an opportunity to for their children to have a better life.
Yesterday, I spent three hours in church with these wonderful people. Not only was I warmly welcomed, but I left with more love in my heart than when I entered. Friendly, kind and generous, these residents want a chance. A chance for their children and themselves. They are not asking to be treated differently or given more than their share.
The Como Community Center is a place where kids can go after school. They are off the streets and under the guidance of caring adults can study or safely play. Fort Worth Police have clearly indicated that this community center helps keep crime down. So why would the Mayor and City Council think of closing it down? Because we are squeezing pennies and nickels out of a poorly planned budget. We erect a statute to former President John F. Kennedy with $250,000 of gas well funds, contribute $100,000 to the Van Cliburn Foundation and over $5 million to the Fort Worth Zoo. We need the Zoo and Van Cliburn is a very important part of Fort Worth culture and our support is necessary.
I said at the beginning of the article that Como has an effect on the city as a whole. When you close down their community center and community pool, when you don’t give kids viable options, then sooner or later, we get higher crime. It doesn’t matter in what section of town where higher crime occurs. It’s just reported in the statistics for the city as a whole. This impacts us when businesses are looking to move to the area. Higher crime cities don’t attract new companies.
Helping Como not only makes financial sense. It’s also the right thing to do. The return on investment (ROI) on the money we put into Como helps our city as a whole and gives kids a chance.
Jon Perry – The change we need. The voice businesses and families deserve.
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Early Voting June 2nd – June 10th
Even if you did NOT vote in the city wide election, ALL registered voters are eligible to vote in the runoff election.
Election Day – Saturday, June 18th
Jon Perry
Office: (817) 754-0001
Campaign Website: http://jonperry.biz
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