To the editor:
I just read the article in the June 8, 2016 issue of The Monroe Times headlined "City Eyes At-Large Elections" on the front page and this sounded like a real bad idea. The at-large election of council members should concern every Democrat, Republican and Independent. I feel every ward should have an alderperson to represent your ward, in case you have problems with your street or snow removal, as well as crime or drug problems. If there was a ward that didn't have anybody in it, they wouldn't see first-hand what was going on.
Since there are no more than nine wards, I don't feel we need any more than nine council people to represent everyone fairly. This idea was discussed in 2011 but no decision was made after a public hearing.
The council better have another public hearing because I was at that meeting and I didn't hear anyone discussing benefits. Only a lot of complaints. All it does is create a monopoly in certain wards of the city. If you think that's a democracy, I sure don't.
I hope there is another public hearing and this time put this at-large elections of council members to bed forever because it's certainly not a democracy. If you are going to have 11 alderpersons at a higher cost to the city, you should have eleven wards.
Tell your friends to make sure they come to the public hearing because you won't have time to complain after the damage is done. You could contact your alderperson before the public hearing and ask questions. Such as: Make sure there is a public hearing.
I just read the article in the June 8, 2016 issue of The Monroe Times headlined "City Eyes At-Large Elections" on the front page and this sounded like a real bad idea. The at-large election of council members should concern every Democrat, Republican and Independent. I feel every ward should have an alderperson to represent your ward, in case you have problems with your street or snow removal, as well as crime or drug problems. If there was a ward that didn't have anybody in it, they wouldn't see first-hand what was going on.
Since there are no more than nine wards, I don't feel we need any more than nine council people to represent everyone fairly. This idea was discussed in 2011 but no decision was made after a public hearing.
The council better have another public hearing because I was at that meeting and I didn't hear anyone discussing benefits. Only a lot of complaints. All it does is create a monopoly in certain wards of the city. If you think that's a democracy, I sure don't.
I hope there is another public hearing and this time put this at-large elections of council members to bed forever because it's certainly not a democracy. If you are going to have 11 alderpersons at a higher cost to the city, you should have eleven wards.
Tell your friends to make sure they come to the public hearing because you won't have time to complain after the damage is done. You could contact your alderperson before the public hearing and ask questions. Such as: Make sure there is a public hearing.
