The people in the Anniston area have had enough! Over the last few weeks we have had a police officer go down. Just about the entire community came together for the 200+ police car escort down Quintard; the delivery by state troopers of the U.S. Honor Flag; and the funeral of officer Justin Sollohub. Many comments on Facebook and Twitter supported and praised the officer for his bravery and work and his personally which many people learned on the days after his death. Just about everybody now has concern and have anger over how down Anniston has become over the last couple of years. People are now fed up over this issue and want change to bring Anniston back from the brink. Now I say just about everybody has concern over the city of Anniston but there are a few people who think the police are to blame for the demise of Anniston. One councilman named Ben Little thinks the police department is harassing the citizens of Anniston and he even thought the police during the last city council meeting was snickering at him. Ben Little even held a meeting on a corner of a local street and handed out a CD that had information of police harassment. The only problem is the audio on it was hard to hear and there was no information on the CD that alleged harassment. And during the meeting citizens were yelling in a shouting match against Mr. Little. I am starting to believe like many citizens in the area that Ben Little and mayor Gene Robinson and the rest of the city council are killing Anniston.

I read an article in the Anniston Star that said some people in West Anniston hate when the police come around and think they are being bothered. Okay you know it’s the police duty to protect the citizens of Anniston especially with the shooting and drug problem in West Anniston. Just about everyone knows there is a big problem of crime in West Anniston and it’s the job of the police to protect us. West Anniston is Ben Little’s ward and I guess he thinks police should not do their job. But I and many people around here support the police. Now the other issue facing Anniston; it’s losing population and jobs. With all the fighting and shenanigans going on during the city council meetings; hardly anything is done. It is actually a joy to watch the city council meetings to see what crazy thing comes up next. The schools are getting worse; jobs are leaving; and people are leaving. Anniston was labeled the most toxic city in America by 60 Minutes; and it seems like no one cares. We instead get to see the city council fight each other over nothing. As we watch Oxford, Saks, Weaver, White Plains, Alexandria, and Jacksonville get bigger; we watch Anniston go down the toilet. Anniston is a great and scenic town and it can come back if we get the right leaders in office; so what can be done.

I can see that the surrounding cities are getting small paying type jobs, but nothing in the good paying jobs. When an industry wants to move to an area its looks at the biggest city in the area. So when they pass on the area because of the negative attention in Anniston; you have nobody to blame but Anniston. So for places like Oxford, Jacksonville and every else in Calhoun County; you will have to blame Anniston. It is fine to get these small restaurants, stores and hotels that are low paying; but it will not work for long. If the Anniston Army Depot shuts down and its support like BAE Systems also shuts down; you have to blame Anniston. One big step for the surrounding communities and the chamber, you all need to band together and put pressure on Anniston to change. These low paying jobs will not support a community and we need to bring high paying jobs to the area. The next big thing is the voters of Anniston; you all need to vote out the entire city government next August. I do feel most will get the boot but Ben Little might not; I hope the voters will be smart enough to vote him out, but we know how stupid some voters are. But I do hope for the best outcome and a new mayor and city council. I would also like to see some tourism in Anniston. We put on some great events like the Noble Street Festival and the Woodstock 5k every year so why not promote that. We could extend to Chief Ladiga trail through Anniston and develop Coldwater Mountain. But Ben Little says the trail going through his ward isn’t going to happen. I do hope the future of Anniston is bright for years to come; but I know of some people who think Anniston is turning to Birmingham East, and I hope that is not the case.