We’ve got a primary election coming up in our city on May 2. So far, early voter turnout has been pathetic. According to our county clerk, only 2.2% of registered voters have shown up to vote and there isn’t much time left. What’s keeping folks away from the polls? Is it voter apathy or burn out?
The truth is, most of us don’t vote in primaries unless there’s something controversial on the ballot. Like increased taxes for new schools, or whether or not we should allow a casino to move in and fleece the surrounding populace. Those issues get people to the polls. But most of us have found that no matter who we vote for, some things in the city never really change.
The city council is controlled by one party, so naturally the other party is pretty much staying at home. The current mayor represents the opposing party, but he’s been in office long enough to have a firm base of supporters who like things just the way they are.. As an Independent, I can’t see declaring a party affiliation just so I can vote in more of the same.
A perfect example is the on-going, abysmall state of our side streets and roads. District councilmen live in these neighborhoods, but they do nothing to improve the pothole issue for their constituents. And they’ve been getting away with it forever. Folks in low income neighborhoods have learned not to expect much.
Sometimes, they attempt to cover the potholes with lumpy piles of asphalt or whatever they use to avoid re paving a tire-killing street. The council dithers around about how to allocate taxpayer and other, unexpected sources of revenue. God forbid they would do anything to lower the profits of car dealerships and repair services.
A pothole can puncture your tire or bend or crack your wheel. It can damage your tire’s sidewall or belts. Even a minor impact may knock your vehicle out of alignment. A pothole strike can damage your shocks or struts, or harm your suspension. They can cause fluid leaks under your car. But never mind, your local dealership or repair service will gladly fix all the damage.. Drivers pay an average of $600 for pothole repair work . It’s estimated one out of every ten drivers in 2021 sustained vehicle damage significant enough they needed immediate repairs after hitting a pothole.
Do local citizens believe that voting in the primaries will fix the city’s potholes? No, they’ve given up on that years ago. Which begs the question: Are voters apathetic or burned out?