10/07/2026
A CONVERSATION FLORENCE NEEDS TO HAVE
I want to say something that has been on my mind for a while, and I believe Florence needs to have an honest conversation about it.
First, because it is election season, let me make something VERY clear.This post is NOT about politics.
This is not an endorsement of anybody. This is not an attack on anybody. This is not Democrat versus Republican, one candidate versus another, or me telling anybody who they should or should not vote for.
This is coming from ME, as a member of this community, from what I see, what I hear, and what people bring to me.There are things happening in and around Florence that we simply do not talk about enough.
We talk about growth.
We talk about new businesses.
We celebrate ribbon cuttings.
We take pictures at events.
We post about all the wonderful things happening in Florence.
And YES, those things deserve to be celebrated.
But where are the same conversations, attention, pictures, meetings, and energy when it comes to the parts of our community that are struggling?
Where are the conversations about our underserved communities?
Where are the conversations about families barely making it?
Where are the conversations about homelessness?
Where are the conversations about affordable housing?
Where are the conversations about people who need resources but don't know where to go?
Where are the conversations with residents who don't have connections, influence, money, or somebody they can pick up the phone and call?
Those people are Florence too.
That is what I mean when I talk about representation.
I appreciate Councilmember Angie Cable and Lesley Chambers speaking openly about communication, accountability, transparency, disagreement when necessary, and residents being part of the process.
I agree with a lot of that.But it made me ask an even bigger question: Are we really talking about and listening to the ENTIRE community?
Because from my perspective, we still have work to do and before anybody takes that statement and runs with it, I am NOT saying that every Council member doesn't care. I believe there are people who genuinely care and who try.
But one or two people cannot carry the responsibility of making an entire community feel represented. The system itself has to make room for everybody and we need to understand the difference between being PRESENT in the community and being ENGAGED with the community.
There is nothing wrong with attending a ribbon cutting.
There is nothing wrong with taking pictures.
There is nothing wrong with showing up at community events.
But I am going to say this:We cannot take more pictures with the community than we have conversations with the community.
What happens when the cameras are gone?
What happens after the ribbon is cut?
What happens when there isn't a celebration happening?
Where are we when a family is struggling?
Where are we when residents keep asking the same questions?
Where are we when somebody feels like nobody is listening?
Where are we when an issue isn't pretty enough for a picture or comfortable enough for a Facebook post?
THAT is community engagement.
And being allowed to speak at a Council meeting is not the same thing as being heard.
Residents can attend meetings.
They can stand up and speak.
They can ask questions.
They can raise concerns.
But my question is:
What happens AFTER they speak? Is there follow-up?
Does somebody call them back? Is the concern investigated?
Are they brought back into the conversation?
Do they ever find out what happened? Or do they eventually get tired of asking?
That's where trust starts getting lost and this is why transparency and accountability matter so much.
If Council members themselves are raising concerns about communication and asking difficult questions, then I believe residents have every right to ask difficult questions too.
That's not disrespect. That's democracy.
And we also need to have an honest conversation about representation.
Why don't we see more diversity in some of these rooms?
Why don't we see more people from different backgrounds stepping forward?
Why do some everyday community members feel like these spaces aren't really meant for them?
Why does it sometimes feel like you have to already know somebody, be connected to somebody, or already be part of the circle before the door really opens?
Those aren't accusations. Those are QUESTIONS.
And we should be able to ask them without people immediately becoming defensive.
I'm not interested in politics just for the sake of politics. I'm interested in PEOPLE.
I'm interested in the senior who needs help.
The family living paycheck to paycheck.
The single parent trying to keep everything together.
The person experiencing homelessness.
The young person who doesn't feel represented.
The resident who doesn't know who to call.
The person who has spoken up more than once and still doesn't feel heard.
The community member who wants to become involved but doesn't feel like there's really a place at the table for them.
THEY ARE FLORENCE TOO.
And I want to be clear about something else.
I love Florence.
Pointing out where we can do better does not mean I am against Florence asking questions does not mean I'm attacking our city.
Holding leadership accountable does not mean I'm against leadership.
You can love your community and still challenge it to do better. Actually, sometimes that's exactly what loving your community requires.
So yes, I'm going to continue asking questions. I'm going to continue listening when people come to me with concerns.
I'm going to continue speaking up when something doesn't make sense.
I'm going to continue pushing for transparency, communication, accountability, diversity, and BOOTS ON THE GROUND involvement. Because I don't just want to see leadership at the celebration.
I want to see leadership in the struggle too.
I don't expect everybody to agree with me.
I don't expect Council to agree on everything.
I don't expect residents to agree with every decision.
Disagreement isn't the problem. Being unheard is.
So please don't turn this into an election post.
Don't turn it into Democrat versus Republican.
Don't turn it into me being against one person or supporting another.That's not what I'm saying.
I'm talking about something much bigger COMMUNITY.
All I'm asking is that when we say Florence is moving forward, we make sure we're not leaving part of Florence behind. Because Florence doesn't only belong to the people with influence.
It doesn't only belong to the people with connections. It doesn't only belong to the people already sitting at the table.
Florence belongs to ALL OF US.
And respectfully, I'm not sorry for asking the questions that I believe need to be asked.
Sometimes the uncomfortable conversations are the conversations that need to happen the most.
So let's have the conversation. See less
