It's the Economy, Stupid!

“It’s the economy, stupid!” That focused reminder from a presidential campaign nearly 20 years ago resonates again as Jefferson City considers the consequences if Proposition A would pass on April 5th.  We’ve been on a pretty good run the last few months. Notwithstanding a sluggish economy, the local Chamber of Commerce has launched an ambitious campaign to remake our community so we can have something that Chamber consultant Jon Roberts describes as “quality of place”.  Hundreds of volunteers are investing a lot of time and energy putting their shoulders to the task. It is beginning to pay off.  Headline after headline announces progress all over town.

All of that could be wasted if Proposition A puts an end to recycling in Jefferson City. We really don’t need a consultant to tell us but Jon Roberts put it bluntly – young people looking for a place to invest their time and talents won’t give us the time of day if we are not a recycling community.

A lack of commitment on that single issue would betray a lack of resolve to remake ourselves. A lack of commitment on that single issue could undo all other efforts at economic growth. So what do we want?  Do we want to continue building our community for the future or do we want to surrender to the past?  Do we want the headlines over the next year to continue chronicling our economic growth or do we want our newspaper filled with stories of broken contracts and litigation and higher trash rates?

Set aside for a moment that nearly every community of any size in Missouri has community-wide trash service.  Set aside that Jefferson City’s trash rates are two dollars below the statewide average and five to ten dollars less than those paid by residents in rural Cole County. Set aside that over 2,000,000 pounds of trash have been recovered in the year since the new program began that used to be dumped illegally. Set aside that nearly a quarter of the trash we collect is now recycled which has already extended the life of the landfill.

Instead, ask yourself what happens to our future if Proposition A passes. How could we explain to would-be newcomers that we are not a recycling community? Worse, how could we explain that we were once a recycling community but then we turned our backs on it? Then remember the number one priority for all of us regardless of our individual circumstances: “It’s the economy, stupid”.

DON’T THROW A GOOD THING AWAY.  GO TO THE POLLS ON APRIL 5TH AND VOTE “NO” ON PROPOSITION A.