Barrett Gilbreath: We can transform Montgomery into a city with pride

In one of the most important elections in decades, Montgomerians will go to the polls Tuesday and cast ballots to determine the direction and the future of our city for years to come.

As I have walked neighborhoods and knocked on doors in every corner of Montgomery over the past several weeks, countless residents have told me they are concerned beyond measure about the crime plaguing our city, dominating headlines, and prompting fear when traveling streets we once considered safe.

Too many told me they worry their children and grandchildren will move far away simply
because Montgomery’s economy is stagnant and there are not enough good jobs, career options, or long-term opportunities to keep the next generation close to home.

Many complained about the poor condition of our roadways, the resulting damage to their cars, and the lack of responsiveness when maintenance issues and safety concerns are reported.

But all of the residents with whom I spoke shared one common thread – a deep love of the city we all call home and a passionate desire to reverse Montgomery’s steep and steady decline.

For too long, ambitious politicians and power-hungry insiders have kept our city at loggerheads by sowing seeds of division and fueling an adversarial mentality to prevent us from progressing together.

After Montgomery’s riverfront erupted with unprovoked attacks by unruly and disrespectful
visitors, our entire city coalesced with encouragement and support for the riverboat crew member who was simply trying to do his job and service the passengers aboard one of our most beloved landmarks.

But bringing our city and its citizens together behind a common cause should not have to be prompted by senseless acts of stupidity and violence – it should be an everyday occurrence as common as waking up in the morning.

Throughout my campaign, I have focused solely upon the issues to unite us as Montgomerians, not the manufactured controversies and false accusations seeking only to divide us.

All of us have either been a victim of Montgomery’s runaway crime rate, or we know someone who has been victimized.

All of us can agree when an eight-year-old leads police on a high-speed chase while driving a stolen car and carrying a loaded weapon, it offers solid evidence we are headed in the wrong direction.

All of us understand that when a city worker on his daily collection route is injured by stray
gunfire that strikes his sanitation truck and shatters its window, it is difficult to feel safe on the streets.

All of us want the boards covering long-shuttered stores to be removed as new jobs and new hope abound, but, instead, businesses are closing, not opening, and portions of our city are becoming true retail deserts.

All of us want streets that are both safe but also in good condition so we can welcome commerce and keep our neighborhoods healthy, thriving, and proud, but too many roads remain in disrepair with no indication when the neglect will be addressed.

All of us want city services delivered in a timely and efficient manner, but equipment sitting in disrepair, poor planning, and low prioritization by our leaders have caused trash and debris to sit street side for up to four weeks in some areas, which poses a health concern and lessens the quality of life for those affected.

During the speeches I have made, the candidate forums in which I have participated, and the conversations I have had with concerned citizens across the community, I have outlined solid, well-thought, commonsense solutions to each of these problems.

We can make our streets safer, support our officers, and add more to their ranks. We can repair our roadways and improve our neighborhoods. We can provide jobs to the jobless and hope to the hopeless.

All of my proposals, ideas, and initiatives are available for review on my campaign website at www.barrettgilbreath.com, and I encourage you to take a look and consider each one.

Regardless of which part of the city you reside, where you worship, which political philosophy you embrace, or how you label yourself, all of us must admit after a candid, honest, and thoughtful assessment that Montgomery has seen better, more peaceful, and more prosperous days than today.

But with God’s blessings and your support, and your commitment to be part of the solution, we will transform Montgomery into a proud city that fully serves the needs of the wonderfully diverse residents who call it home.

I ask for your vote for mayor on Tuesday.