Four years ago Mayor William Miller appealed to the voters of Weirton in a call for a change in leadership from former Mayor, Dean Harris. He did so successfully and became Weirton's 9th mayor. Since then, I must say, the state of Weirton has gotten so much worse that I am relieved that the chance to change the guard is near.
I hate to sound so cliché but it is really time to throw the bums on city council out. With the past four years we, the citizens of Weirton, have seen the one-time big employer Weirton Steel become Mittal Steel and our citizens forced elsewhere as there are fewer places we can find jobs. With the decline of Weirton Steel and other employers, we have seen the rise in gambling parlors which have invaded our little town with such force that it is impossible to wander a half a mile without coming across three of them. Many of us have become accustomed to the sight of the mobster-style gambling joints, but I ponder, can we do better? The answer is a resounding yes! What has the mayor and his crew of Councilmen done for Weirton but make it look like a joke in the grand scheme of things? I surely cannot see anything.
Well I guess there is that right-to-work tax of two dollars a week that the council has championed over the years. Anyone who wants to work in Weirton automatically has two dollars taken from their paycheck in order to pay for road paving which is funny since I constantly play Miss the Pothole when traveling through town. But I guess that’s okay because who can actually find work in Weirton anymore?
According to Sperling's Best Places, an online city analyst, Weirton has an unemployment rate of 8.70%. Compare that with the national unemployment of 4.5% in February. If the data did not include those who are employed by jobs located outside of Weirton, I would be willing to bet that the rate would surpass 10-13%. Future job growth is expected to be at a rate of - 5.85% over the next ten years. Those are statistics that you would expect to find in third-world countries but not in our own back yard. I know that the council is not entirely responsible but I would think it can work to address this issue.
The City Council itself has become nothing more than a body to legitimize what the mayor wants. One city councilman commented on how the current council was good at meshing together but I think given the current condition of Weirton, unanimity is something that is not working. There have been some reports that the council can even sometimes become hostile when approached with opposing views as well. I think that the council chamber is the place where the forum of ideas from citizens is best expressed and should be done so with respect from the councilmen.
I too was enticed by the thought of new leadership four years ago but I never dreamed that my city would change so radically or in such a direction that makes me sick to my stomach when I come home from college.
This City Council election is the most vital that Weirton has ever faced. The city has a choice of two roads. On one path, they can choose to allow the current council in its entirety along with the mayor to further disgrace us and make our town look like a little Las Vegas. The tax on people wanting to work in the city can persist; we can continue to allow the council be a rubberstamp for Mayor Miller and continue to watch our downward spiral. But, once we go down this path there is no coming back for Weirton for several years.
The second road, my friends, is much better though. We can mix up this meshing council to allow a new slate of ideas that promote debate and new direction for the city. The new direction should really take into consideration the concerns of citizens. Can you honestly say that you claim Weirton as your hometown with pride? Would you want to bring your relatives from out of state here and boast that this is where you live?
Let's get serious about the mess the current administration has gotten us into and install new people who can handle the job.
Christopher D. Mader,
Weirton
Posted at: 08:39 PM | Add Comment