Anniston, Anniston, Anniston, why do you keep shooting yourself in the foot? Since city officials including the mayor Vaughn Stewart and the city council knows me, because I endorsed them when they ran, I am going to talk about some problems. I hope you listen, because seeing Anniston being rundown is getting old, and embarrassing! Before I get started, I invite you to read my presentation called “How To Turn The Anniston / Oxford Area Around.” I also invite you to see my “The Problems In East / Northeast Alabama” infographic. It should not take a genius to figure out that Anniston / Oxford is in deep trouble.
Anniston, I have been documenting troubles in this town for a while now. Since I have been unemployed for over three years, and have been rejected over 1,200 times. I feel like I have document the troubles in this metro area, because I know there are other people who have been unemployed for a long time in this area too. And me and many other people are getting tired of seeing this metro area being one of the worst in America, it should not be like this!
For example, I have been documenting stray dogs running around in the area. And for a metro area this size, there should be animal control!
Don't worry stray dog, the city of Anniston is too broke to come get you. pic.twitter.com/1FUBenqWUp
— Nathan Young ❄️☮️💜💙🧡 (@nvyoung) August 28, 2014
And I have also been documenting the multiple small businesses in Anniston and Oxford that have closed down. It is unacceptable to see this many businesses close down, and it’s not all Obama’s fault.
Dh, dh, dh, another one bites the dust, clap-clap! pic.twitter.com/SHsKMHEc6T
— Nathan Young ❄️☮️💜💙🧡 (@nvyoung) August 25, 2014
I have also been documenting the road problems in Anniston. From broken sensors at traffic lights that has taken two years to get fixed. To one of the worst re-paint jobs on a local city street. People perceive that Anniston and Oxford are lazy. So if we are lazy, who would want to move here?
I even parodied the problems in Anniston / Oxford with my parody music video called “Kryptonite Is My Weakness.” Take a look!
So my question to people who lead in Anniston, Oxford, Calhoun County, and other places in this area, is this? Why are we one of the worst metro areas in America? Why do we have one of the worst unemployment rates in America? Why do we have a sizable homeless population who have given up hope? Why are businesses closing down left and right? And why are businesses avoiding this area and instead going to Birmingham and Atlanta? We have seen multiple businesses from Atlanta or Birmingham skip this area, and go further down the road.
And while Anniston is cutting back and laying off some people, why is the city hiring just two people, who makes more than most city employees? Just this week, they announced a new policy where employees can not talk to the media like me, without first talking to a city head? This sounds like the city is trying to hide something? I know the public information officer who was hired by the city says it is something different. But if the general public can talk to any city employee about anything, but has to keep quiet to people who work at the Anniston Star, TV 24, Geek Alabama, and other media places, I feel like this is censorship, and many other people agree with me.
I feel like Anniston, Oxford, Calhoun County, and other cities, needs to quit the backroom deals, quit the arguing, quit the laziness, quit the “good ole boy” system, and get up and do something! Jobs and economic growth is not going to just come to you, you need to get out there and recruit, which takes money. Here’s an idea, how about you abandon plans to spend money adding bike lanes, and instead take that money to go out and recruit, that would be a great move!
Mostly all places here in Anniston from the local TV station, small businesses, organizations, and other places, continues to want me to help them out, promote their business or events, or do something good for them, without getting any pay. In most other places in America, I would have gotten some payment to pay for gas and other expenses. But some people here in Anniston / Oxford wants to be lazy. Here is something to consider, the only type of business doing well in this area is the car dealerships. Most of the commercials on radio and TV, plus the online ads you see in the Anniston Star, are mostly car ads. If the car dealerships were not attracting people from Atlanta and Birmingham, every TV and radio station would be greatly reduced!
It sounds like the only move left for me is to leave Anniston and Calhoun County for good. Many folks from people who follow me on social media, fellow bloggers, and others have told me that I need to leave. In fact, I have more supporters in Atlanta and Birmingham, than what I have in Anniston / Oxford. I have been stabbed in the back too many times from people here in Anniston / Oxford, it may be time to ride into the sunset. But I will not leave until I find something, that is for sure. I did the move out into a better economy before, only to get burned. So, the people who say I need to move to North Dakota, it won’t happen until I land a job, and a place to live. Thanks for reading this Friday night rant, peace!
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