Muscatine

Simply stated you either grow, or you die.  What will our New Mayor do to get Growth In Muscatine?   What should the new Mayor do?

Most citizens of Muscatine don't care, as evidenced by several City Council members not even getting opposition.  Should we care?

Somebody stand up and at least write a comment here?

What kind of growth you talkin? Industry? Retail? With the current political climate in DC being what it is, I don't see much a mayor can do. I live in the downtown area. About all there is there is places to eat or drink. And a couple of pawn shops to finance your eating and drinking. Lots of empty store fronts.

The town keeps growing out. For me that means a bus ride or begging a ride with someone with a car. So, I shop online for most of my needs.

Don't know what else to tell ya.

The Mayor could play a major role in making Muscatine grow.  I would define growth as new fair paying jobs that give enough money for a person to go out for dinner without having to go to the pawn shop first.  New employment means new employers who hire workers right here in Muscatine.  Just 90 miles upstream IBM is bringing  4,500 new jobs.  

The mayor could starting to make Muscatine progressive by appointing different positive people to various Boards and Committees.  Start with MPW's board of directors, finish with the City Council's budget.  Address defeatism in Muscatine's thinking.  Yes, there are more new homes built just outside of Muscatine than inside, just once the City should ask why, and do something about it to get it resolved and reversed.    

The Mayor could urge the Council to spend money where it was so designed and intended.  If they cannot get there, don't spend it at all.  The City must address the issue of pollution, and resolve it correctly.   The good old boy of people in Muscatine needs to change their ways and make efforts to recruit new employers, jobs, and living standards of the City.   The City could get a comprehensive City Plan, and for the first time in history follow it.

This Blog could also play a positive role in getting the correct mental ability of Muscatine to become progressive.

What do you think?

I think I haven't seen you at any of the council meetings making your voice heard or I don't think I have seen your name on a ballot, have I?  You want change but you know not of what you speak.  You want change but your idea is to blog on a community board about how bad everything is without doing anything to try and help.  Go down to city hall where they have a volunteer list you can sign up and as positions become available you can work on some of these boards.  You can be a part of the solution instead of just complaining.  Come to council meetings and see the process, and budget meetings are open to the public, you are welcome to come and see the process and speak your mind.  If you have some fresh ideas on how to recruit new employers and businesses then we need you.  Not on that side of the computer screen but here in real time.  I agree we need some answers and it is going to take hard work to find them.  But I can assure you sitting behind your computer and squawking isn't going to get it done.  Give us ideas.  Bring your ideas to the council and various agencies so we can see if they are feasible and adaptable.  I agree it is ashame that council members are getting back on because they run opposed.  We need people who are willing to act and get things done.  And the things that are getting done now, that you are complaining about is getting done by people who are showing and doing the work.  So if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.  Come up with ideas, build a platform and start a grass roots movement that can get things done.  You may have that one idea that can change things, and I am pretty sure no one is going to listen to it from behind your computer screen.  All of us need to get out and accept a bit of responsibility and work to make a difference and  change in our community.  Change isn't stationary, there's a reason its called a "movement."