Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1468000
4 UCW MAY 18 - 24, 2022 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM When is the last time you heard a quasi-government agency broadcast they are not raising your rates or tax- es? Well, from the press release from the Public Works Commission last week, their utility customers' electric rates are not expected to increase during 2023. is update reflects the staff at our hometown utility doing a great job and looking out for their Fayetteville customers. Together, they provide leadership by example, not being afraid to make decisions, take action, roll up their sleeves and get the necessary work done to better the community. e nearly $400 million 2023 pro- posed budget calls for more than a 10% decrease from the current bud- get. Yes, decrease! Water rates, how- ever, will increase slightly. According to PWC's President and CEO, Elaina Ball, higher water rates will take effect in 2023, and average water and sewer customers about $3 a month. ese water rate increases were postponed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kudos to PWC. ey are setting the example for both our city and county governments. is kind of responsible strategic planning and high-level leadership is sorely needed at all levels of our local government. And, in today's economic climate, it is more important now than ever before. As we approach the upcoming 2022 city and county elections, voters must pay special attention to the character, leadership skills, abilities and vision that local candidates are touting. Several days ago, I was at a meeting with four businesses that started here in Fayetteville/Cumberland County 25 to 30 years ago. We all adamantly agreed that the foun- dation of our success came from the lead- ership and support we received from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, the Chamber of Com- merce, Fayetteville Visitors Bureau, and the office of Eco- nomic Development. Today, not so much. Our reputation has become that we are not a business-friend- ly community. at is why it is so impor- tant to vote in the upcoming elections for candidates who will again provide the vision and leadership that will move this community forward. We have plenty of op- portunities here that need cultivation and development, and our current leader- ship has failed us in so many ways. Look no further than the last 8 to 10 years if you need proof. Look around, ask your own questions, make your observations and draw your own conclusions. Here are a few to get you started: Is it easy doing business with the city and county? Does our homicide rate have you concerned that Fayetteville is quickly becoming the murder capital of North Carolina? Why can't our City Council make the most straightforward decisions like what downtown Fayetteville paid parking hours would best benefit the down- town businesses and encourage visi- tors, guests and residents to frequent historic downtown Fayetteville. Or, how should Fayetteville repurpose the STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com EDITOR Emily Sussman editor@upandcomingweekly.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Hannah Lee assistanteditor@upandcomingweekly. com PRODUCTION MANAGER/ GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dylan Hooker art@upandcomingweekly.com STAFF WRITER Alyson Hansen Ashley Shirley Cindy Whitt Jason Brady MARKETING ASSOCIATE Linda McAlister linda@upandcomingweekly.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER/SALES ADMINISTRATOR Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Hood, Pitt Dickey, Kathleen Ramsey, Michael Futch, Ben Sessoms, Kristy Grove, Rabbi Dov Goldberg, D.G. Martin COVER Design by Dylan Hooker Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan St. P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: 910-484-6200- FAX: 910-484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and information on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Up & Coming Weekly is published weekly on Wednesdays. Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publication consideration, but assumes no responsibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distributed at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Army Airfield, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per person. © 2020 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. Various ads with art graphics designed with elements from: vecteezy.com and freepik.com. PUBLISHER'S PEN 82 64 82 83 79 82 63 64 83 66 64 65 THU MAY 19 FRI MAY 20 SAT MAY 21 SUN MAY 22 MON MAY 23 TUE MAY 24 92 72 93 73 90 71 84 65 76 64 80 68 Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Showers Showers Thunderstorms Association of Community Publishers PWC: Setting an example others should follow by BILL BOWMAN Photo courtesy of Pexels