Momentum in Meridian

Merriam-Webster defines momentum as the strength or force that something has when it is moving. If you have driven around Meridian from Downtown to East End; from the West Side to North Hills Street; from Redline to College Park; you have visibly seen the work and commitment to improve our city streets, lighting, and clean-up efforts to increase the value of our city and best utilize your tax dollars.

This city administration has made a commitment to street paving and a paving program that will utilize our own equipment and manpower through a $7.5 million dollar street paving bond program. We are making plans to invest in new technology to improve efficiencies in water/sewer infrastructure.

We have made a huge commitment in public safety by improving the rate of pay of our police officers and firemen so that we no longer have to be a training ground for those hired to protect and serve us. We have more officers on the street to protect our citizens by investing in public safety.

Through Tourism and experience magnets we must create a place that invites families and visitors to our city. There have been over $200 million dollars in private and public dollars invested in Downtown Meridian. Meridian is on the map! The city is buzzing with the excitement of the coming opening of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience; the announcement of the Threefoot Courtyard Marriott; The Children’s Museum; The Jimmie Rodgers Museum; all coming downtown! All of these museums and their history posed great challenges to common people in our city who were told it would never happen here! These are buildings and processes that we all can be proud of.

The Velma Young Community Center will continue to be a resource for citizens and is another example of good government working for the people. It doesn’t matter what zip code, district, or ward you live in. You see progress being made in this city and we all should be proud of that.

Our city is truly at a turning point in her life. Our window is now! Our time is now! In the months to come we will have more tourists visiting us than we have had in decades. This is all because of the investments, growth and infrastructure upgrades made by the private, and public, and government sectors. The momentum is growing in Meridian!

More doors and opportunities are open! People are now buzzing about Meridian!. We no longer have to talk about Gulfport, Southaven, Tupelo or Hattiesburg because we have our own jewels here! What a great time to be a Meridianite! Be proud of your city and the progress we are making, and please excuse us while we continue to grow!

Meridian is open for business. Come join us!

Percy Bland

Mayor of Meridian

‘Organic’ label no longer means humane

The Trump administration ruled on Friday that animals raised for food under the “USDA Organic” label need not be treated any less cruelly than those in conventional farming. The decision reverses years of U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, which held that the “organic” label should impose minimal ethical, health, and environmental standards. For the animals, this included adequate space, light, and access to the outdoors.

Under the Trump administration, this will no longer be the case. “Organic” farm operations will be allowed to cram laying hens five to a small wire cage that tears out their feathers and to grind or suffocate millions of male chicks at birth because they don’t lay eggs. Mother pigs will spend their miserable lives in tight metal crates, as their babies are torn from them and mutilated with no anesthesia. And dairy cows will continue to cry for their babies torn from them at birth, so we can drink their milk.

Caring consumers opting for “organic” animal products, to reduce their role in subsidizing these abuses, will now have no choice but to switch to plant-based foods, including the widely available nut- and grain-based meats, milks, cheeses, and ice creams.

Milton Silva

Meridian

Robin Roberts for Hall of Fame

Why did they not have Ms. Robin Robetts, NBC news anchor, listed in the Hall of Fame?

She is from Mississippi, has done a lot promoting Mississippi and is well known.

Jesse Paul Barnett Jr.

Meridian