The Price of Apathy

By Ron West - Updated 3/23/05

                    This column was initially written for the first issue of the NRH Citizens Group Newsletter.  For the first time in NRH history, to my knowledge, a group of concerned citizens came together to effect significant positive changes at city hall.  Apathy is such a danger that I have continually updated the following with current information as applicable.

                The initial reason behind the group’s formation was the enactment of unreasonable parking restrictions by a City Council that had no regard for our private property rights.  During the formative days, this initial group was joined by senior citizens who were also wrestling with city hall over a tax freeze initiative.  Apart from these individual issues, all of us shared a common interest in responsible city management, controlled spending and restraint on tax increases.

                Most of us don’t like to be involved in politics of any kind other than maybe casting a vote in a Presidential race.   For the most part, we find local politics to be rather boring so we just ignore it.  City government generally has to stomp on our toes before we’ll wake up and respond to what they are doing.  The NRH Citizens Group did just that in the last election.  Over 4000 people voted out of the 39,000 or so that are registered.  This was a record turnout in our city’s history and we were successful in electing two new candidates to the NRH City Council.

              Our initial victories were more than we dared hope for but were only a beginning.  As a result of our efforts, the noxious parking ordinances were repealed and a reasonable ordinance enacted to replace them.  As a result of citizen action we successfully got the Senior/Disabled Tax Freeze passed in a special election over concerted opposition from the Mayor and old council members. 

                The Mayor and the incumbent Council Members are learning that the Sleeping Giant (the voters) has awakened, at least for the moment.  However, the greatest danger we face is that our hard fought victories will lull us back to sleep.  We’ve proven that involvement in the process yields positive results.  We also know that voter disinterest and apathy can be costly. 

Consider these facts: 

      1)      Property Tax Revenue collected by NRH increased 95% over 10 years while population growth in NRH only increased 19.6% in that same period.

     2)     The taxes on our homes are projected to increase 100% over next 10 years.  The Council published its' intent to hold the rate on property taxes until 2010 thereby grabbing the valuation increases for the next 5 years.

     3)     The City Council has incurred over $21 million of debt that we have to pay for.  They did this without our input or approval.

     4)      The Council created a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) to divert an estimated $85 million in property tax revenue, to be collected over the next 28 years, to their exclusive control.  The scope of this fiasco is still hidden from the voters.

    5)     The records and actions of our local government are basically closed to the taxpayers.

     6)      The City has spent over $300,000 in legal fees defending an indefensible, wrongful death lawsuit.  This money was paid to City Attorney, George Staples, and his firm in addition to regular contract fees due for his services to the city.  He or his firm has made over $800,000 from city tax payers in just the last 3 years – and he takes an occasional nap during council meetings at $160 per hour. 

     7)      We have a noxious sign ordinance that will not allow business owners to perform routine maintenance on pole signs that are not within 200 feet of 820.  The taxpayers are subsidizing new signs that this Council deems more beautiful.  NRH is unfriendly to small businesses. 

          This list is very incomplete but it represents some of the current problems we face.  We are funding an arrogant and unresponsive City Council on a runaway spending spree.  Money is no object in our city because our officials have been able to increase spending at will without anyone taking notice.  In the end, we pay the bills.  If we go back to sleep, we all lose.  Apathy in NRH is just not affordable.

           Each of us needs to take part in our city government by monitoring the City Council meetings in person or via Cable Channel 7.  Additional information is available on NRHOnline.com and   others that are linked to it.  We all need to become informed and exercise our vote.  Our next chance to vote is May 2005 and it may well be one of the most important elections in the history of our city.  The choices of the majority of our Council will be up for our choice.  We will be able to choose candidates for open responsive and responsible government or we may choose the current aristocratic form of closed government.  The choice will be ours and the majority will rule. 

               The bottom line is this: We have begun something that is truly important and we are succeeding in our efforts.  The trick now is to keep it going.  If we go back to sleep, the tentacles of increasingly invasive and arrogant local government will smother us once again.  Let’s keep up the momentum and truly make NRH both “The City of Choice” and a good place for us to live.