Cordele chairman comments on SPLOST money
Joshua Deriso comments on SPLOST money
CORDELE, Ga. – Deriso explained to CBS 44 News what this means and how it effects citizens.
“For me it’s just another side of reality that the west side is no longer in the equation or is not in the equation of development or improvement,” Deriso said.
However, seeing $6 million go to the east side of Cordele comes as no surprise to Deriso. For now he says the west side has continuously been deprived of development for years.
“Most of the poverty is on the west side of town. And, so, bringing truckstops and restaurants is not going to improve working wages or equality or even the poverty conditions that you see on the west side of town. But, you have $1.2 million going to make a park out on Williams Fields which is the east side. Meanwhile, there’s some things that could be done on the west side to promote something similar or at least cut the money in have and give some to both sides of town. It’s about compromise and equity,” the Chairman explained.
He also noted that the park is a proposal, and not a definitive in-place action at this time. However, it is still being debated by the commission.
With this, Deirso mentioned he would like to see funds go towards after school programs for kids in lower income households.
However, he can’t make changes alone and says both the commission and citizens need to rise up.
“The government’s job is to be transparent, and if the government is not transparent the citizens’ job is to make sure we’re held accountable. I don’t think that’s been done. I don’t think the city has been transparent and I also think the citizens have not activated participatory democracy. You have to show up to meetings, you have to ask questions. You have the power as people, that’s what democracy is about. If you don’t like something, show up and protest it,” said Deriso.
The Cordele City Commission will vote upon an agreed percentage at the next meeting April 18th.
Mary Alex Anders reporting.
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