Y’all, listen up. The people we elect—from City Council to the Mayor’s Office—hold the ultimate structure of power in our communities. And here’s the problem: they appoint their stooges as gatekeepers, controlling access to that power. That’s why so many communities, especially foundational Black American communities, never see real results.
Let me break it down. People always say “chase the money,” but that’s a false narrative. The money is already there. You don’t chase it—you chase the power that controls it. If you control the power, you control the money. Right now, the Mayor appoints people, the City Council appoints people, even the Governor appoints people. We have no real say in the conditions of our neighborhoods. They decide what projects get funded, what initiatives move forward, and who gets left out.
Here’s an example: the Citizen Planning Advisory Committees (CPACs). These groups are supposed to represent our communities in planning decisions, but most members are appointed, not elected. That means the people making the decisions about zoning, land use, and local funding are hand-picked by officials, not chosen by us. They are the gatekeepers. The community? Left out.
This is why I’m taking action. I’ve sent out public records requests and proposed that CPACs and other advisory boards be elected by the people, with term limits, and that all recommendations flow through us before reaching the Planning Commission or City Council. That’s how we start draining the swamp—by putting the power back in our hands.
When we, the people—foundational Black Americans—have the power, we control the money. We control the decisions. We control the projects that affect our schools, our neighborhoods, and our futures. That’s real change. That’s real accountability. That’s how you stop appointed gatekeepers from deciding our fate.
So I’m asking you: are you starting to catch on? This isn’t just politics—it’s about reclaiming power, leadership, and resources for our communities. Drain the swamp. Put the power where it belongs—with the people. With us.
Submitted by Carnell Oliver
Publisher:
Rev. Renaldo C. McKenzie, Editor_in_Chief, The Neoliberal
Carnell will sit with Renaldo McKenzie on The Neoliberal Round on Wednesday evening at 7pm to discuss his actions to advocate for fair representation in government particularly in Jacksonville FLorida. Canell will be at a meeting in Jacksonville with local government representatives to discuss his ideas and has sent letters to leaders in the area to press for changes in how local government committee members are elected and is advocating for term limits.
Support us: https://donate.stripe.com/7sYcN48uybAA2OEb9V93y06
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 4445-260-9198
Check out our Store page where you can access Neoliberalism:
