The passing of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, on February 17, 2026, marks the end of an era. America mourns and remembers the hundreds of communities he visited and inspired with his message to “Keep hope alive.” He visited Monroe in…
Tag: Roosevelt Wright Jr
Fee increase vote was historic; it had no opposition
The Monroe City Council and Mayor Friday Ellis deserve credit and recognition for the council’s unanimous decision on February 10, 2026, to approve significant rate increases for water, sewer, and refuse collection. While raising utility fees is never politically easy,…
Thanks due to hundreds who pitched in to help during ice storm
In the wake of last week’s devastating winter storm, our community has been tested—and has answered with courage, competence, and compassion. As more than 90,000 residents sat in the cold and dark, an army of first responders, city crews, utility…
Council should fine tune new fees before passage
On January 26, the Monroe City Council will vote on a proposal to nearly double residential garbage fees, raising the monthly rate from approximately $17 to $28 per can. While city leaders argue that these hikes are necessary to modernize…
At the CES in Vegas, I glimpsed the future
I recently returned from the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, a four-million-square-foot glimpse into our immediate future. There were 150,000 select individuals from around the world who saw what up close what tomorrow will be. It was a…
Christmas spirit stirs hope in Monroe’s future
As this year comes to a close, Monroe pauses to look back. We have walked through days of sorrow and nights of worry. We have mourned lives lost to violence, stood with grieving families, and felt the heavy weight of…
Off duty police, working security using city equipment, can be a problem
Monroe is gambling with taxpayer money every time it lets off‑duty police officers wear city uniforms, carry city equipment, and sit in city units while working for private companies. When something goes wrong, as it did at Parkview Apartments last…
