If you want to gauge where Monroe is at, look no farther than the downtown parking ramp with its crumbling concrete and "Temporary No Parking" signs designating the structure's most dangerous spots. The image is a fitting analogy of our city and its leadership - stalled in time and space, with no clear vision for the future.
The city has been aware for years that the parking ramp is structurally unsound, and despite numerous fitful efforts to find a solution, as of today, we still don't know what to do with the structure. The Common Council, and its predecessors, are to blame for this humiliation. But ultimately, the mayor must take responsibility for a lack of leadership that has allowed the decision-making process to become derailed.
During his tenure as mayor over much of the past 20 years, Ross has represented Monroe well as a good-will ambassador. He seems sincere about his desire to see Monroe move forward, but we've yet to see the requisite action. He's tried, to some degree: Earlier this month, Ross pushed a vote on a resolution to raze the ramp and replace it with a surface lot, a solution that was included as one of three recommendations from consultants who studied the downtown parking lot. The council narrowly shot it down. While Ross says he will bring another alternative to the table, it's too little, too late.
We understand that Ross has faced resistance from council members on this and other topics, and we appreciate that he believes in building consensus rather than the heavy-handed autocracy Monroe flirted with during a previous mayor. But the reality is any group of individuals can be difficult to work with; a strong leader will find a way to navigate interpersonal issues and move the group to more productive ground.
We'd like to see what Louis Armstrong can bring to the mayor's position. Armstrong, a two-term alderman, has his own plan for the parking ramp, one that would require the city building a new ramp on the Spring Square lot before tearing down the existing ramp. While the plan seems to have merits, we wish Armstrong had pushed harder for his colleagues on the council to consider his plan.
Monroe has been stuck in park, stagnating with no real growth, for too long. The 8th Street project is delayed, which serves only to postpone the inevitable pain, and City Hall needs repairs. We need to take some serious initiative to spur economic growth to make the city attractive and viable for the next generations. Empty promises that the long-awaited Amlat infant formula factory is coming to fix our woes are not enough.
Armstrong says he will bring a more assertive leadership style and follow-through to the mayor's office. It's time to give him a chance to show that he can push, pull or drag our city forward.
The city has been aware for years that the parking ramp is structurally unsound, and despite numerous fitful efforts to find a solution, as of today, we still don't know what to do with the structure. The Common Council, and its predecessors, are to blame for this humiliation. But ultimately, the mayor must take responsibility for a lack of leadership that has allowed the decision-making process to become derailed.
During his tenure as mayor over much of the past 20 years, Ross has represented Monroe well as a good-will ambassador. He seems sincere about his desire to see Monroe move forward, but we've yet to see the requisite action. He's tried, to some degree: Earlier this month, Ross pushed a vote on a resolution to raze the ramp and replace it with a surface lot, a solution that was included as one of three recommendations from consultants who studied the downtown parking lot. The council narrowly shot it down. While Ross says he will bring another alternative to the table, it's too little, too late.
We understand that Ross has faced resistance from council members on this and other topics, and we appreciate that he believes in building consensus rather than the heavy-handed autocracy Monroe flirted with during a previous mayor. But the reality is any group of individuals can be difficult to work with; a strong leader will find a way to navigate interpersonal issues and move the group to more productive ground.
We'd like to see what Louis Armstrong can bring to the mayor's position. Armstrong, a two-term alderman, has his own plan for the parking ramp, one that would require the city building a new ramp on the Spring Square lot before tearing down the existing ramp. While the plan seems to have merits, we wish Armstrong had pushed harder for his colleagues on the council to consider his plan.
Monroe has been stuck in park, stagnating with no real growth, for too long. The 8th Street project is delayed, which serves only to postpone the inevitable pain, and City Hall needs repairs. We need to take some serious initiative to spur economic growth to make the city attractive and viable for the next generations. Empty promises that the long-awaited Amlat infant formula factory is coming to fix our woes are not enough.
Armstrong says he will bring a more assertive leadership style and follow-through to the mayor's office. It's time to give him a chance to show that he can push, pull or drag our city forward.
