Pine Bluff Mayor Washington Says City Becoming ‘Known for More Than Challenges’

Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington pronounced the city “strong” and “progressive” during her 2020 State of the City address held Thursday evening at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, citing partnerships that increase revenue bolstered by an A+ credit rating from Standard and Poor’s, the significance of the upcoming 2020 Census, and a new educational opportunity for college-bound youth.  

“We are closer to realizing a goal of awarding scholarships for college to students who want one,” Washington stated.

The news that the ‘Pine Bluff Promise’ program is in its “final stages” brought a round of applause from the audience.

Washington touted the Pine Bluff Aquatic Center which opened last summer, the new library which will serve as an “economic and social hub”, a decrease in crimes against persons, and a year during which there were no fatal fires.

In downtown, the Mayor said new water lines, sidewalks, and landscape are being installed to give “future businesses the infrastructure they need to attract customers.”

She discussed the city’s partnerships with ‘Go Forward, Pine Bluff’, the festivals it hosts and the organization’s innovation hub called, ‘The Generator’, which will offer training and resources to transform “ideas into employment.”

One of the highlights focused on the 2019 opening of the Saracen Casino and Resort Annex.

She said, “As a result of the revenue, we were able to raise salaries for city employees and first responders.”

In April, the federal government will begin the 2020 Census which counts every person living in the United States and determines the funding cities receive for education, Medicare, mass transit, and other services.

“If even one person fails to count in the Census, we could lose thousands,” Washington explained.

To underscore the impact of the Census, she indicated that a loss of one percent of the state’s population could mean a loss of a billion dollars.

An Election Year

Washington is up for re-election on March 3^rd. Two City Councilmen are running against her, Ivan Whitfield and Steven Mays. Mays and Whitfield attended the address.

Whitfield, who is also the former Pine Bluff police chief, stresses “strong, respectful public safety” to increase growth.

He also added, “I just believe we need to get more people involved than those occupy the Main Street. We need some real true neighborhood representatives. There are other stakeholders who need to be at the table from the beginning. We need to have fair representation…I believe we should be planning now for what will occur 20 years from now and at the same time stabilize what we have now.”

“The drainage system needs to be redone,” Mays said. “And, we need to stabilize businesses and get citizens to think local.” He stated that he is also concerned about a “waste of funds at City Hall.”

The March 3^rd election includes races for City Council, district and county judgeships, state lawmakers, other local governing, the United States Senate as well as the Democratic Presidential nomination. Campaign signs are visible throughout the city with some lawns hosting numerous candidates’ aspirations. While candidates promote their agendas, a theme of unity between the city and Jefferson County is a common thread.

Mac Norton, who is campaigning for Circuit Judge, says if voters elect him, he will “be there, be present, be fair, and impartial” and he remarked on the need for a united community.

“What Pine Bluff needs is the black Community and the white Community needs to keep working hard to get back together,” he said. “We’ve made great strides, especially with Mayor Washington, over the last couple years, and I think if we continue that and get UAPB involved also and start crossing lines.”

For more information about the upcoming March 3^rd election, visit www.jeffersoncountyar.gov/election-voter-registration.