Jonesboro Mayor Perrin's Plans - A Model of Redistribution of Wealth & Government Control
Perrin's plan incorporates all types of government, central control, and redistribution of wealth and wants it to become a model for the nation with his CDBG neighborhood program (livable community philosophy). "The goal is to incorporate city government, foundations, federal and state departments, non-profits, faith-based organizations and education into a model that can be replicated statewide and eventually go national."
Note: With the federal and state government in control who else would possibly have any real input into this decision? The others they list are just for show - to make it look like the plan is local.
"To receive its annual CDBG entitlement grant, a grantee must develop and submit to HUD its Consolidated Plan, (which is a jurisdiction's comprehensive planning document and application for funding under the following Community Planning and Development formula grant programs: CDBG, HOME Investment Partnerships, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG)." http://www.hud.gov:80/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/entitlement/
"Entitlement communities develop their own programs and funding priorities. However, grantees must give maximum feasible priority to activities which benefit low-and moderate-income persons. A grantee may also carry out activities which aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight. Additionally, grantees may fund activities when the grantee certifies that the activities meet other community development needs having a particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs. CDBG funds may not be used for activities which do not meet these broad national objectives." http://www.hud.gov:80/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/entitlement/
"CDBG funds may be used for activities which include, but are not limited to: Note: Visualize what each of these mean.
Excerpts from Jonesboro Mayor Perrin's annual address on state of the city: Entire speech can still be found at this link as of today: http://www.jonesborosun.com/documents/jcity2011.pdf
"Once again our community development department was recognized on the state and national level for having one of
the only true citizen-driven CDBG programs in the nation. By focusing on a single neighborhood in order to begin what
will become a citywide initiative, the department launched the Neighborhood Network campaign with three networks
ready to elect their leadership next month, and an additional two working through the process. Five networks in single
community is a phenomenal achievement, and what we intend to accomplish is even greater.
We are looking to establish a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area, which will allow this neighborhood to seek out
additional funding that has not been available to them previously. [Of course this funding comes from taxpayers. Federal
grants are not free; we pay for them all over the nation.]"The Community Development Department has reached out to the other neighborhood
associations and hopes to go citywide this year."
"These neighbors are gathering together to address their individual needs and we as a city are here to support them in
every way possible. The goal is to incorporate city government, foundations, federal and state departments, non-profits,
faith-based organizations and education into a model that can be replicated statewide and eventually go national. "
End of excerpts. [Note: With the state and federal government involved who else will have any influence at all. This
desire to be a national model gets politicians every time. They love the recognition and will sell their soul for it.]
Note also how Perrin brags on the JET transportation system in Jonesboro even though it is costing taxpayers about $30.00 to
subsidize each trip made on the bus. It has the highest subsidized rate of any city transportation system in the state by far.
"JETS made tremendous gains last year in restructuring their budget to below $1 million by improving route
efficiencies, reviewing procedures and tweaking operations. They formed a true community partnership with other
transit providers serving the community and moved toward a true mobility manager system. Most notably, they finally
took possession of their new headquarters and dispatch center at the new Public Works campus on Dan Avenue. If you
haven’t been there, I encourage you to go by. It’s an beautiful facility. "[Knowing what we know about JETS, that is all
we need to know as to how great the rest of this stuff is. It cost $770,000 federal grant to build this new headquarters
and dispatch the center that Perrin brags about but this amount was not figured into the cost per ridership on JETS buses.
It is a federal grant, stimulus money. You know federal money grows on trees; it doesn't cost us anything. Our economy
is going under because people view these federal grants as free money.]
Posted February 13, 2011