Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/153540
EDITORIAL by james palmer THE TIME HAS COME Pearlie Toliver was talking to a group of Leadership Macon alums at a recent lunch. She and Leonard Bevill were giving an update on consolidation plans. But Toliver had a much more important message to share: "Get involved." It's never too late to start caring. And there has never been a more important time to step up than right now. In mid-September we face one of the most important local elections we've had in several generations. We will elect a new government, the first for our consolidated city and county. For all the people living in north, south, east and west Bibb who've never had a say in who would be mayor or sit on city council, it's your turn. You don't like what's happened in Macon in recent years? Change it. Get up, get out and vote. The re-drawn districts for the nine-member county commission are complicated and confusing. Find out which district you're in by going to co.bibb.ga.us\BOE\BOE.aspx. I'm guessing there are people who don't know. Don't be one of them. Find out who's running. Figure out who you think will be willing to work with others. Who has progressive ideas? Who's not grinding the same old ax? Who cares more about the community than they do about furthering their own agendas? Figure out who the truly reasonable people are, and make sure they're elected. Campaign. Write a check. Plant a yard sign. 12 l MACON MAGAZINE The good news is momentum is on our side. Good things are going on. I don't care what the naysayers think. Macon is on the move. If you can't see it, you're just not looking hard enough. There is also a core group of young adults who care passionately about where we're going. And, more than anything, they love Macon. It's a novel idea, I know. We're so used to bashing ourselves over the head, you'd think we'd be ready to stop. Yes, there's crime … and poverty … and the public schools need improving. We have a high illiteracy rate. There's neighborhood blight. There are empty storefronts downtown. I've got all that. But I also see an energy and optimism about where we're going, and what we can accomplish. What I want from our elected officials isn't complicated. I want a city that's clean. I want a city that's safe, and I want a city that's growing. None of those may be easy to achieve, but if we can accomplish those three things, I think everything else falls into place. But we can't do it without good leadership, from both the public and private sectors. This is the time to define who we are as a community. Which brings me to this: If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. It's up to you to decide which you are. If you care about who you are and who we are; if you care about what we can become, then make it happen. Get involved. Vote. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013