The Wright Plan: Let’s quit talking about fixing “East Roswell” and do the following immediately:
- Demand that GDOT put the Holcomb Bridge exit sign up on GA400 showing Roswell and not just Norcross.
- Let’s work on naming Holcomb Bridge/Crossville Road the same name all across Roswell.
- More importantly, let’s split Roswell into three districts: east, central, and west and name one council member to each district for 12 years. Then we have three at large council members. The council members will no longer be department liaisons, but each district council member will work across the departments for what is best for that area. Each would also be expected to work more closely with the community, both residents and business owners, on ways to improve each area with an eye for 50 years from now. After 12 years, the city council and residents should measure the effectiveness of having a dedicated representative work in these communities.
The benefits can be enormous.
- Each area will know their needs are being championed.
- Artificial communication silos between the city council and city departments would be eliminated.
- It creates a higher functioning and efficient city governance as each area would receive the appropriate attention on key improvements.
- This pushes the government closer to the people in each area so the ideas created by the community will not get lost in huge bureaucracy.
- It gives a psychological boost to east Roswell residents and believe the same for the GA400 corridor and downtown Roswell.
Why Does this Matter to you? For years now, the east side of Roswell has believed that city council representation has been lacking. Big Box stores have been closing. There seems to be no viable plan for “East Roswell.” Politicians have talked a lot about “One Roswell” that includes east Roswell for at least 10 years now. Even some of my opponents have been in positions to help change how people on the east side feel. But all we have is division and strife with no clear consensus or plan forward.
The time is now to stop talking about doing something in east Roswell, but to do something now.