Another whirlwind day.
Meetings, meetings, meetings, but lots got accomplished or started. Emergency preparedness took up a lot of my
day. We all sit back and shake our heads
and talk about what could have been done, what should have been done, and who should
have done it. In small cities and towns,
the same issues exist, and the same issues, mostly go unnoticed and
un-addressed until the lid blows off.
Then we are up in arms. Then we
want to be heard.
There is an election in Mount Rainier. The election date is May 4, 2015. Not all of us can run for office, but 4,300+
of us can come out to the polls and vote for the candidates that we believe
best represent us, our concerns, and our community. In many of the previous elections held in
this City (MOUNT RAINIER), less than 600 people CARED enough to come out to
MOUNT RAINIER CITY HALL (POTTS BUILDING at one time, old fire station at other
times) to cast their votes.
TRUE, visibility, communications, and information about the
CITY ELECTION was limited at best, but IF YOU LIVE HERE, you have a duty and a
responsibility to know certain basic things INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE A
VOICE in your local government. NO,
voting at MOUNT RAINIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL or THOMAS STONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL was
not voting in a MUNICIPAL ELECTION. YOU
HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD, and yes, people count on YOU NOT BEING HEARD especially,
if you live in the apartments, Queens Manor, Kaywood, Queenstown, Arundel
Apartments, and all of the other smaller apartments in the City.
This year, at least 4,300+ notices were sent to each
registered voter in the City of Mount Rainier, Maryland. You should have received your notice of the
election last week. It has YOUR NAME on
it. It has the VOTING INFORMATION on
it. IT HAS THE LOCATION OF THE ELECTION
as well as the hours of the election.
VOTING TAKES ONLY A FEW MINUTES. Those elected will be in office for two to
four years! They will determine the
services you get -- tax increases; police coverage; trash collection; code enforcement;
parking, and yes a whole lot more!
In the past 40 years, I have heard almost every reason under
the sun why people do not vote. I have
also had to listen to how unfair the system is; how our police officers do not
respond; why trash cans and trash removal in the City is so archaic; how street
repairs are needed; and the list goes on and on. Your opportunity to lend your voice and to
hold someone accountable for responding to YOU is when you participate in the
election process.
No change does not come overnight. No one person cannot do it by him or herself,
BUT ask the person who lost an election by one vote! Ask the person who almost won a million dollars,
but missed it by one number! YOUR VOTE
COUNTS! YOUR VOICE COUNTS! You can be a part of those working to change
our City – MOUNT RAINIER, MARYLAND in a positive manner or you can continue to
sit on the sideline and see what happens next.
IT IS YOUR CALL. There
are committees in the City that COULD BENEFIT from your knowledge, experience
and expertise. Those elected do not know
that you have the skills they need because YOU HAVE NOT YET stepped
forward. Remember, the best way to bring
about change is to be a change agent and part of the change YOU WANT TO SEE
HAPPEN in YOUR COMMUNITY.
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