Visions of Hope

Praying all is well with you all and your families as we persevere through winter storms and prepare for the spring storm season. We also pray for those who continue to battle COVID during this pandemic. There has been much happening and much to consider in our community in early 2021. Visions of Hope is about the future and what we are doing now to ensure a better reality. As it relates to south Monroe, Southside or anything south of Louisville Ave. and DeSiard St., we must have intelligent dialogue about what must be done from a community, religious and political viewpoint. As we continue to make gains such as the renaming of Robert E. Lee Jr. High to Neville Jr. High, we are still struggling in our community to retire the Rebel mascot at West Monroe High. We have placed street lightning on HWY 165 south from I-20 to Winnsboro Rd, however much more work must occur for further extension of the lighting project down HWY 165 south into Richwood. In fact, we are told that we must wait until 2022 to get the project bided out.

There also has been much conversation about a half penny (1/2 cent) sales tax to stimulate economic development and growth in city council districts 3, 4, and 5. Current political leadership and the SEDD board (Southside Economic Development District) are of the opinion to allow the voters in south Monroe to decide whether they want an additional half penny sales tax to occur on anything purchased in south Monroe. SEDD has new leadership and is committed to allowing us, the voters, to decide. The fact of the matter is south Monroe will need a combination of things to occur from city, state, and federal levels. Our community is 40 years behind when it comes to development and infrastructure. The business owners who do not necessarily look like you and I are bleeding our community and taking the money out of the community. A dollar circulates 7 times across town while our dollar only circulates 1 time, and this is one of the reasons why we don't see our money at work for us. We must begin to demand businesses in our community to reinvest on the southside. City government must be held accountable as well. Those who represent us must demand more of our tax dollars to work for us. Remember, the city's Black population makes up 68% of the total population. We must be united to bring about the change of our future. I have been committed by staying involved in our community. I live, worship, shop, and support the southside. We must challenge particularly those in business, our residents, our religious leaders, educational and political leaders to unite and bring about the change we want to see. If you can conceive it, you can achieve it, Visions of Hope! - Brother Verbon Muhammad