We have repeatedly heard Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy urge city department heads and even City Commissioners to “stay in their lane.”
His point is people should focus on those things that are within the scope of their duties. In government it means not fiddling with things that you might not understand and you could hurt more than you help.
That’s why we are somewhat confused and even amused Mayor Espy has decided to tell the Care Station how it needs to go about the huge task of feeding the hungry in Clarksdale.
This newspaper has watched the volunteers and cooks at Care Station for several years and we are astounded at how this well organized machine feeds thousands every month.
The numbers are the hard facts anyone can look at and see results.
Seventy individual, hot and nutritious meals served to anyone who walks up at lunch time at the facility on Hooker Lane.
Two-hundred-plus meals boxed and distributed by a faithful group of people in vehicles. Those meals go to the elderly and shut-in. And they are more than just a meal; they are contact with those needy and often lonely people.
And then there are the tons of food that are distributed at the Care Station Mobile Food Pantry each month. That faithful group of volunteers braved cold weather and a stiff wind Tuesday as they distributed food to those in need.
Yes, the county wisely gave a significant amount of their ARPA funds to Care Station this fall. What has the city spent its ARPA funds on?
We urge Mayor Espy to go to the Care Station and learn first-hand what this organization does. We do warn him to stay out of the way and not slow these folks down or get his fancy clothes dirty.
We also urge him to think about finding money in city coffers to help this organization. Your $10,000 a year shows this town the value you place on feeding people.
Three years ago Mayor Espy pushed his salary from $86,422 to $112,421 an increase of $25,999. Maybe the Mayor will consider taking some of his big pay raise - or his monthly mileage check - and use it to put food in a hungry mouth.
Last but not least, we urge the Mayor to consider the source of his information before he makes any more decisions.
Stay in your lane, Mayor Espy. Let Care Station run this race against hunger.
