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Free golf lessons may violate state constitution
To the editor:
In reference to the newspaper article pertaining to golf course lessons, it is this person's opinion that the furnishing of golf balls, clubs and the golf course owned by the city for the free golf course lessons is a violation of the state constitution. Yes, it is a small cost, but it is a cost and small costs accumulate into big costs. It is arguable that it would be permissible for the city to provide the balls, clubs and golf course for citizens of Blytheville. However, it would be giving something for nothing to those individuals who do not live in Blytheville.
The city of Blytheville is on the verge of financial failure due to the lack of control of citizens' public funds and most of the lack of funds is strictly due to the failure to comply with the state laws and state constitution. The golf course is presently losing approximately $200,000 per year and has been since the golf course was built. No person in government recognizes anything wrong with the golf course and the mayor made a public statement, "We can't afford to lose the revenue from the golf course" even when records indicate that the golf course is losing $200,000 per year. The city of Blytheville is spending thousands of dollars in violation of the laws to provide goodies for the rich, while over 1 in 4 children living in Blytheville do not have sufficient food for their table.
State statistics indicate that 15 percent of whites live in poverty verses 36 percent of blacks in the state. There are 28.4 citizens living in poverty in Mississippi County, according to federal statistics in 2007.
Based on the above statistics, 3,131 blacks living in Blytheville are living in poverty and do not have sufficient food to eat, compared to 1,304 whites.
When is the city government going to include thoughts pertaining to these babies in the operation of this city government?