Dear Editor:
Election 2020 Reveals Cold-hearted Truth About Current State of Cultural
and Racial Inequities— “Smack Dab in the Middle of a Pandemic”
Two years ago, Dumas
elected its first black mayor. The council within the first year had a 5-3 white/black
ratio. I saw hope, but trouble at the same time. How? Hope: When we can see a black mayor with
greater representation for all of Dumas.
Trouble: When I went before the council the next year to ask why the administration
called the police on me when I had been approved to have a community meeting to
discuss new options regarding the closing of DTEC. With millions of dollars poured
into DTEC and its closing, I wanted to know what were ‘next-step options’ and
to host a community forum on this subject and more. We have done Town Hall
Forums for 12 years and this one was necessary. I received a call from the Governor’s
office with directives to find out more about the closing and report back. Sadly, even with a police report confirming no
need for the police to have been called, the City Clerk, Erma Coburn and the
Councilmember, Roy Dalton were not directed by the Mayor to state their
reasons.
Now, two years later
in the middle of a pandemic, we have the first opportunity to elect one more
black person to put the council in a 50/50 balance of Black/White representation.
It gives hope to what has not changed in the history of this city. Linda Hunt Rogers is running for Ward I
Position I.
In January of this
year, our new grant program from USDA, Rural Economic Development Innovation
requested $75,000 at the council meeting to help us with operations for the
year. We were directed to put a proposal together and submit it to budget
committee. We did so in February and got
the highest review from one of the city officers. Absent was John Owen, the chair of the budget
committee. To date he has not confirmed
to meet with us. In the year of a pandemic with $6,000,000 endowed to the city
from the Peterson’s Trust, the city chooses not to provide a way to help
organizations going out in harm’s way to help the residents. To date, we have
invested over $325,000 in food distribution and operations and will have $500,000
into Dumas and SEARK from our REDI program before the year is over. Over $100,000
has come from our personal dollars to serve the residents and build new programs
in and for Dumas and these leaders continue to disregard and do the politics. See more on this at www.thelegacycenterinwestdumas.org
The city has spent
over $200,000 with an outside agency to promote positive things that brand or promote
good things happening in and from Dumas. We have been rudely treated by Councilmember
Ramona Weatherford and constantly denied the opportunity to be a part of this A&P
effort. We have the councilmembers, written them, invited them to public forums
to speak out and to date, NO RESPONSE!
Dumas, Why Stay the
Same?
We can, we should,
and we will do better. Now is the
time. We do not know when we will have the option
to do a 4/4 ration of council members again.
What is wrong with 4 blacks and 4 whites to go across the city and find
the needs and interests of the community?
Whether the mayor is black, white, etc., the city council members are
the ones who are most accountable for the work and progress for the citizens. A
racially balanced council is a key to a racially balanced community and city
governance.
Our USDA REDI grant
award has so much opportunity to bring to Dumas. If we had leaders who could see the vision
and partner with us it would bring Dumas to a higher regard in many ways.
Sometimes I hear God
saying clearly… “Stop Putting Water on a Fire that God has Started.” I see this happening not only in Dumas but
across this nation.
I ask you to leave
your comments, questions here. I ask the
city of Dumas to challenge any of these statements and do so speedily. This letter is to help us see where we are
and to make the wise decisions to bring greater hope and future results to all
of Dumas, Desha, the Delta and beyond.
To join us for
change, please contact me, Rev. Arthur L. Hunt,
Jr., D.D., directly at 870.623.8179 or ceo@thecollegeofaspiringartists.education
Our work with our new Digital Arts
College Network, DAT—C is underway. It
will be located at THE LEGACY CENTER in West Dumas and more details on this is
at www.thelegacycenterinwestdumas.org.
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