Mayor Mark Stodola is delivering a state of the city address today. I’ll pass a copy along when I have it.

KATV Tweets that the mayor has said public safety is the city’s highest priority.

And here I thought we didn’t have a crime problem. Maybe he means that he intends to make maintaining our safety record his highest priority.

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UPDATE: The mayor apparently has acknowledged an increase in homicides,  stolen vehicles and auto break-ins.

I note with disappointment that the mayor called for approval of a half-billion in new Little Rock School District taxes in a May 9 special election, but stayed solidly in the chamber of commerce pocket by staying silent on a call for return of the school district to Little Rock voters. His only reference to democracy in Little Rock was this:

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The battles over turf, control, and power need to be set aside concerning this election because it is not about the adults, it is about the children. 

I bet he wouldn’t say the same thing if a Republican from Mountain Home owned by a Bentonville billionaire — and not elected city officials — was calling the shots on how city tax money would be spent, including which buildings the city had to sell to a competitor that might want them.

The mayor has asked people in Little Rock to set democracy (“control”) aside. I won’t.

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