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OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY (September 6, 2017)
DAVID FLEETWOOD, BUSINESS MANAGER – LABORERS LOCAL 500
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!!!
As the leader of a labor organization, I am privileged to be
invited to many meetings whereby other business
professionals and elected officials are making major
decisions regarding our daily quality of life. More than a
few times, those in attendance and making decisions aren’t
reflective of the communities we live, work and play. If we
aren’t at the table representing our own thoughts and
desires, then who are the people speaking for us, our
neighborhoods, and the businesses we own and operate? Are
these people speaking for our communities or only for their
own? YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO HAVE A VOICE AT THESE TABLES.
According to PEW Research, in the 2016 Presidential
Election, White voter turnout increased, Black voter turnout
decreased, and Latino voter turnout held steady from 2012.
It is certainly your right to vote or not vote, but we must
keep in mind that by not voting, someone else is voting and
making decisions for us; these are the people in the room
speaking for us, and sometimes against us. This is evident
based on the results of the 2016 Presidential Election and
is certain to happen in our local election on Tuesday,
September 12, 2017, unless we make our voices heard and
get out and vote.
If we feel that we often do not have a voice, it’s because
often, WE DO NOT! Could it be because a great majority of
us don’t vote? Short answer, YES. A small minority of
“representatives” make the decisions for the “majority” of
the citizens. There are politicians attempting to silence
you by purging you from voter rolls because you are not
utilizing your right to vote. This is serious people! This
is just the beginning of elected officials taking away your
rights. We must get off the sidelines and engage in the
selection process of our leaders. You may not be
physically at every table, but you have a chance to elect
those that will best speak for you. Through your vote,
you speak for yourself!
Will the politicians we elect be all that we want them to be
all of the time? Absolutely not, but we must learn how to
hold them accountable while they’re in office by making sure
they know that we voted for them, and we’ll organize our
political strengths and vote against them if they fail to
represent us. There are many politicians that genuinely
care about YOU and genuinely want to represent YOU.
However, many politicians no longer solicit your vote
because your voting history tells them not to bother. Your
inactivity in voting tells them that you are no threat to
them. Let’s change that immediately by voting today at the
Early Vote Center or go to your designated polling location
on Tuesday, September 12. If you don’t vote in
September, your candidate may not make it to the ballot in
November.
Please…..Take this time and SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!
DAVID FLEETWOOD
Business Manager
LIUNA Local 500
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