Springdale's Mayor Doug Sprouse pontificated on his position as mayor and told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last week, "I have no doubt that I’m doing what God wants me to do." Such certainty of Divine purpose is widespread among the boastful politicians in Benton County, but Springdale is more like the land of Uz where it is rare to find a man so "righteous in his own eyes."
Sprouse said he is very aware of Springdale’s image — "that it’s rundown and dirty, backward and provincial, industrial and overrun by illegal aliens." I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all, but “we can’t let others define the truth for us,” he said. I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? I am as one mocked of his neighbour."
This month, Chickenopolis was the only city in Northwest Arkansas to show yet another drop in sales tax revenue. Earlier this year, Standard & Poor's Rating Service downgraded the city's 2006 improvement bonds. So far this year, there have been 138 home foreclosures slated for auction in the city, compared with 102 in Rogers and 58 in Fayetteville. Despite these cold hard facts, Sprouse has ignored those realities, has kept a happy face, and has tried his best to improve the reputation of Springdale, which is "not that bad." He brought his own Weed Eater to a downtown cleanup event, and he sang the national anthem during the opening of the Marshallese Consulate. As the owner of Sprouse Upholstery, Inc. and a longtime Chamber member, he has continued to hand over taxpayer dollars and leave economic development and world travel to the Springdale Cowbirds. Sprouse even endorsed Republican Mark Darr for Lieutenant Governor against Senator Shane Broadway.
Mayor Sprouse said if it’s in God’s plan, he’ll seek re-election in 2012.
It is an arrogant politician who blames God for giving us such poor leadership.
ReplyDeleteWhich God anointed him? There are so many from which to choose: http://tinyurl.com/7db6o
ReplyDeleteI guess Einstein didn't foresee this when he said that God doesn't play at dice with the universe.
ReplyDeleteAllowing Perry Web and the World Travelers run the city was not such a hot idea. Just mark your time cause there's quite a time bomb coming for the Old Boys club in Chickenopolis. It's called the minority vote.
ReplyDelete.
It is a minority at present but in 10-15 yrs Hispanics will be about equal to gringos in Chickendale and most of them will be natural born citizens. In about 20 years they will be out-breeding the Holts and Duggars. Presently, Hispanics are opening new bidnesses at 4x the rate of gringos.
The minority vote provides us with diverse shopping experiences, frequent use of municipal parks, frequent live entertainment and infrequent use of our SOCIAList, city-financed ball park that Web and surrounding landowners were certain would ring in a new era of prosperity.
What does ol Jerry and Perry do for minority outreach? NOTTA, save for passing an ordinance saying they cannot paint their buildings in bright Hispanic style colors.
Ol Jerry and Perry must now swallow hard and admit that many Springdale schools boast of having 50% or more of their students on subsidized lunch programs.
Having all those po folks should attract mo bidness or that's the wage arbitrage argument that 3RD world nations assume.
When a city cannot or will not support one of the two cultural institutions in the whole damn town what does that tell you? Not much civic pride.
I say to "L"....
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord...God has spoken!!!