By Vice Mayor Sasha Naiman
In this season, many Americans take part in celebrations of Freedom and Independence – including right here in our Montgomery community! With Montgomery’s iconic July 4th parade and festival, as well as the BAMSO concert on July 3rd, we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Another important holiday, Juneteenth, is just behind us – commemorating the path to freedom for people who had been enslaved in America. (Check out the June Bulletin for an article about Juneteenth.) These federal holidays embody the spirit of our nation and the values to which we should aspire: self-determination, democracy, citizenship, opportunity, good governance, and the ability of each person to control their own life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.
The City of Montgomery works hard to live up to these values, including through the work of our Diversity and Inclusion Commission, police and fire departments, community development initiatives, mental-health support programs, and many others. We do this all year long, in partnership with you – the people who live, work, and spend time in Montgomery.
One of my favorite parts of being on the City Council is hearing from all of you, working to be responsive to different (and sometimes conflicting) interests of residents, understanding concerns, and helping seek solutions. I am confident that my colleagues on Council and the City Administration share this feeling. Your power, your voice in government, and your right to influence the future of your community are all important locally – just as these are themes of the holidays we celebrate nationally.
I hope to see you at the Independence Day Parade and to hear from you any day of the year!