CEOs, Presidents, and equivalent HMFICs,
Congratulations on being listed in the “Jonesboro City Guide 2021”, in the “Major Employers Guide” of “100 or More Employees”. As a corporate leader and “stakeholder” in the well-being and future of #JonesboroStrong, We are asking you to wade into the civic business of the city. Please contact Mayor Copenhaver and the city council and encourage the council members to vote “Nay” on the tax ordinances on the agenda for the council’s vote this coming Tuesday, November 2, 2021, and then again later in the month. The contact information is below.
Please consider this information as being sent on behalf of many residents of Jonesboro. Since August 2021, We have objected to the mayor and his administration’s intent to raise taxes on everyone in the midst of the pandemic. If all taxes are passed, it amounts to a 100% increase of the Advertising & Promotions Commission tax, from 3% to 6%. Specifically, if a brand new “Prepared Food Tax” of 2% is voted in by the Jonesboro City Council this Tuesday, which is then followed by an increase of the “Hotel Tax” from the current 3% to 4% in a few weeks, it also amounts to a disassociation from the residents and a tone-deafness to “needs” on an unconscionable scale.
These taxes hit everyone hard but will hit the hardest at those friends and neighbors – primarily in the private-sector economy – who not only suffered the most since March 2020, but also those who may not have fully recovered 21 months in “post-2020, forever Covid-19+” America. Just the top-3 companies listed in the guide account for 8,921 (36%) of the total number of employees, with both hospital systems bearing the brunt of the turmoil and chaos since March 2020 – as did their employees.
The “pro-taxers” for the 2% “Hamburger Tax” claim that those who object to the tax can “cook their meals at home”. We’re confident that your corporate leadership blanches at how heartless that reads, as well as how impractical – if not impossible – given the juggling of family care with work schedules that were and continue to be adjusted to meet the demands of “business”, whether for profit or not. In stark contrast, those attempting to increase the taxes have not missed a paycheck since March 2020.
A quick count indicates that 3,294 (13%) government employees have had that one less concern than the 21,336 (83%) workers who only had the strength of large companies to undergird the combination of the pandemic and job interruptions, plus a pittance of federal “helicopter dollars” to kill some of the pain. The Jonesboro City Guide states that the employed labor force is 163,606. Less the 24,630 employees in companies of “100 or More Employees” equates to 138,976 employees who did not have the benefits of the largest companies or the “guaranteed” employment of government to see them through then and, perhaps, still today.
Lastly, the United Way of Northeast Arkansas fund raises on 50% of its service area existing either in poverty or as “working poor”, i.e., struggling to make ends meet at the end of each month. Remember how Judge Day and Mayor Perrin joined hands on March 27, 2020, on behalf of #JonesboroStrong and, rightly, resolved that those whose need was greatest would get the help most needed? Why is the “whoopin'” that the residents of Jonesboro have endured daily with this pandemic any less of a demand for “servant leadership” than the tornado?
Admittedly, while it would have been better to send you this information earlier in the process, it was only yesterday that We sent the “final” communication to the many email recipients, always with the optimism that the elected, civic, and media leaders would conclude that the unfairness of the mayor’s actions must not be implemented and take action to prevent it. Screenshots of that email follow.
It is the intent of this communication to the members of the business community, of large employers to weigh-in on behalf of the small businesses without the heft to make a significant impact on the vote, as well as the employees of those small businesses, and every single eater, all families of eaters, and guests in #JonesboroStrong.
Thank you for your attention and action on this matter. As detailed in the screenshots of the most recent email sent to the addressees, ask any of them for the four-part series of articles on “Why Jonesboro” must not be taxed under these circumstances or in this manner. Part 4 offers a solution that ensures the greatest opportunity for success. The series and other information are on this web-site. Or, text me at the number listed below and I will call to answer whatever questions you have.
Lastly, this is the link to the article on how Fort Smith is caring for its constituents on the very same matter, a “best practice” and the “win-win”.
Howard L. “Hard L” Weinstock
“oorah 1977-’81, hooah ’82-2010”
Founder, Asawa Kasama, LLC (Est. 2015)
For Mayor Copenhaver, residents are required to contact Mr. Bill Campbell, at 870-336-7164 (W), 870-919-7042.
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