Editor, The Commercial:
Congratulations Mr. Tommy May on Simmons First National Corp. being named to the Forbes list as the 38th best bank in the country! And, yes, we do trust you and the Go Forward Pine Bluff Corp. You certainly didn’t have to take this on and the citizens of Pine Bluff owe you their thanks for your tireless efforts on Pine Bluff’s behalf.
Many of us don’t trust the mayor or the city council when it comes to management of our tax dollars. Therefore, mayor and city council members, be thankful that you are being given some say in how the funds would be spent. You don’t have the financial expertise to manage this initiative.
As has been explained in The Pine Bluff Commercial several times, the not-for-profit corporation, Go Forward Pine Bluff, would hire experts to implement the recommendations.
It would submit requests for allocations of the tax money to the city, which Mr. May has said the council could approve or deny. Be thankful you have been given this much “authority.” You certain haven’t earned it.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
As Mr. May said, there is no Plan B. The city has tried in the past to resurrect Pine Bluff — as they say, “How did that turn out?” I voted for the first tax initiative — I will likely never “splash” in the splash park or visit the aquicenter, but I am glad that they will be there for others. Because of Mr. May’s reputation as a solid businessman, I am supporting Go Forward Pine Bluff. The time is now. Tomorrow may be too late.
Jeanette McGrew
Pine Bluff