The past five-plus years have been punishing to Clarksdale with population decline, decline in retail stores, decline in property values, a decline in our schools and a decline in safety and security.
So what will Clarksdale look like in five years?
Will we have done away with 250 burned-out houses by demolishing 50 a year in a tough and aggressive neighborhood clean-up program?
Will we have our homicide rate in single digits by adequately funding police and then holding judges’ accountable so those convicted of crime are justifiably punished?
Will we have collected half a million dollars a year in unpaid fines to finally get the $2 million owed off the books?
Will the streets paved this summer still be in good shape by not allowing heavy trucks and cars leaking oil and transmission fluid to be parked indefinitely on city streets?
Can we get 50 junk cars out of people’s yards each year and 250 hauled off in five years? With a neighbor on each side and one across the street that’s 750 happy voters.
Will we clean up and fix three empty downtown store fronts a year and have 15 marketable business properties that add much to the charm and appearance of our town.
Will our school districts be consolidated and the $55 million spent annually on two school systems, bring $275 million in quality education to today’s middle schoolers who will graduate in five years?
Will ten percent of our people continue to leave over the next five years sending our population to under 10,000?
Will highways and interstates be built to bring goods to our stores and carry away products manufactured in our factories?
Will our hospital be here and will we have found the solution to solve the healthcare crisis that is affecting the entire Mississippi Delta?
Yes, it is easy to ask these questions and sadly, many will nod their head and not do anything to help solve these problems.
Clarksdale and Coahoma County need leaders, churches, civic clubs and those with deep pockets to come to the table and make a plan for our community.
Goals are critical in business and our personal lives. This town needs to come together with a plan and work to fix some of these issues.
If we don’t . . . well, what will Clarksdale look like in five years?
