‘Stop crapping on Earle’ says Mayor Smith
Frustrated mayor pleads with residents in open letter
By DONALD WILBURN
donaldfwilburn@gmail.com
Mayor Jaylen Smith of Earle has taken to social media to post an open letter to the residents of his town, pleading with them to clean up their properties, cut their grass and pay their bills and liens.
This call to action comes after Mayor Smith launched an initiative earlier in the year targeting and tearing down derelict homes within the city. The Mayor’s efforts to revitalize and beautify Earle have been met with mixed reactions from residents, with some applauding his efforts to improve the city’s appearance while others expressing concerns about the impact on low-income families.
While some residents have voiced support for Mayor Smith’s message, others have expressed frustration and anger, citing _nancial hardship
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as a barrier to complying with his requests. This divide highlights the challenges facing Mayor Smith as he works to balance the needs of the community with the limited resources available.
The following is Mayor Smith’s unedited letter in full: “Dear absentee landowners, “Y’all need to do better. I know you get on your law abiding neighbor’s nerves too. Why should we have to use public tax dollars to cut your private property(lot)? Why should we have to use public tax dollars to tear down your private own home that you refuse to take care of?
“Every time we tear down a dilapidated house we are taking public tax dollars that could have been use for public development. Every time we have to come back to that same private lot to cut it, that’s less public tax dollar use to cut public right away. And then … we put a lien on property and y’all still don’t pay.
“And then you get mad at us when we call you out publicly to shame you into doing what you are responsible for … which is taking care of your private property. It’s beyond tiring dealing with y’all. It’s clear you don’t care about Earle or your neighbor. Guarantee your block, street, neighborhood, community doesn’t look like this where you live.
“So here’s the deal. I would like to introduce you to my new friend: House Bill-HB1027. If we tear down your property or cut your private lot and as a result put a lien on your property and you don’t pay up … HB1027 will allow in rem foreclosures for unpaid code enforcement liens even if the property’s owner is not within the court’s territorial jurisdiction. Stop crapping on Earle.You got to October 1 to get your affairs in order.
“PS-we gonna keep calling y’all out. You can’t hide behind your business, LLC or partner. Everybody can get it. Bye.”
Mayor Jaylen Smith of Earle literally throwing up his hands in frustration at residents’ lack of personal responsibility to maintain their properties.
Photo courtesy of Jaylen Smith
