Mayor Cory Booker article- Listen Waco

Here is an example of leadership in a mayoral fashion from our friends to the north. Waco can take some notes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lanny-davis/the-purple-leadership-of_b_180795.html

I have longed to see viable changes and recognizable investments in greater Waco across the board, but not such visions or visionary leadership has emerged that impacts under served communities. We have a green Chamber staffed in leadership areas by a few from other parts of the country, not locals. What this translates into is an understanding about Wacoans that may be narrowly restricted to those who have and not so much those who have not.

The 2000 Census showed that the median income for a household in the city of Waco is $26,264, and the median income for a family is $33,919. Males have a median income of $26,902 versus $21,159 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,584. 26.3% of the population and 19.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 30.9% of those under the age of 18 and 13.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Recent statistics have shown a dramatic shift, but just use these stats for now... If an average household of three is 30,000 dollars annually and $27, 465 is the national average for families of 3 considered low income level, then Waco has a little work it can do.

I consider Waco to be the dog riddled with mange. There are pockets of visual improvement where ointment (funding) has been applied, but lots of areas of blight, and little opportunity from many. When Jack-of-all-Trades becomes one of the leading employment outlets, we have a problem. When Title Loan Company are popping up all over town, we have a problem. When more citizens are using quick cash places than banks and savings and loans, we have a problem. Clearly an educated, well-employed, and socially adept community would not and should not have all these signs of illegitimacy around it.

There are organizations attempting to create improved lifestyles such as CDC (Waco Community Development) and Mission Waco-, one has a great aesthetic approach, the other not so much. One draws from within, while the other seems to draw outsiders to it. However, diversity of employment, training opportunities, and outreach is often "out of the reach" of those who could benefit most.

Many other organizations are attempting to affect change in Waco; however, without a focused community effort, the city will continue to shift its borders south and west, leaving many of its indigenous people wallowing in the mange of poverty and lack as access. Citizens who have inclusive visions should step up soon before we continue to slid further and further into a divided, class-conscious "Greater Waco".