This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington. This is NOT the opinion of the Taylor Press.
Over the last few weeks, residents have stood up to city councils – plural because I am referring to Taylor and Hutto – for what people feel are injustices.
For months there have been talks surrounding the city council pay increase. During the Taylor City Council meeting, July 27, the process to approve a 4,000% pay raise began, and the people spoke against it. Not only during the meeting and public hearings, but by starting and completing a petition to reverse the decision. At the most recent council meeting, the number of signatures, just over 1,300, was revealed to the council.
A disclaimer was also read about regarding a council member’s threat to residents that resulted in a police report. Not many details were given about the situation.
What happens next remains to be seen, but I believe regardless of the outcome, the people will continue to speak. If, or when, council compensation appears on a ballot, the voters will make the decision. In other words, they will have the final say, at least for the time being.
While the people are speaking, council members are still working. They were elected to do a job by the people, so they are expected to do that job, whether residents agree or disagree with their decisions.
Things are a bit more complicated in Hutto. Racism has become a point of discussion among the council. If you have missed the whole banana fiasco, check out last week’s Taylor Press (Sept. 10), and you will read that some residents are calling for the mayor’s job.
While not as diverse as Taylor’s council, Hutto has two African American council members, who both spoke on the racial issue at the Sept. 7 meeting.
Neither of those two council members asked for a resignation, however, they did ask for cultural sensitivity training and diversity education for the mayor and council members. This request was made after residents spoke out during the public comment portion of the meeting, asking for the same thing.
One speaker encouraged residents to read the city charter and start a petition to recall the mayor because he “does not care about black people.”
Similar to Taylor, people use social media to speak out against decisions of the council, sometimes garnering a response from the mayor in the comments.
Another difference is that the people of Hutto vote for the mayor, unlike Taylor where the council selects the mayor.
The bottom line is the that people are starting to speak up, not just to talk and cause trouble, but to be heard.
What happens when the people speak? Change happens. Everyone may not like or agree with the change, but it happens. If you don’t agree with that, think about elections. The people in office were voted in by the people, that’s a form of speaking up.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now and go put up some shots with Jasmine and Tiana while it’s not so hot.
“And yet there is harsh reality to reflect your claim. But when you’re angry It’ll only affect your aim.”
– Cee Lo Green, “4 My Ppl”
