Before We Talk Candidates, Let’s Talk Agenda

Before we delve into the candidates and how they’re shaping up, it’s a prudent time to talk about agenda. Elections always bring an opportunity for change. In recent years, Falmouth has started cleaning up. This article isn’t about praise or blame. It’s about the broad issues still standing in the way of real growth.

FALMOUTH HAS A JOBS PROBLEM

Let’s be honest: most people can’t find steady income within Falmouth. And those who do are barely scraping by. Even small businesses struggle to open, let alone stay open. Sure, we’ve gained another dollar store and another liquor store, but that doesn’t solve our jobs issue at the scale we need. Not even close.

FALMOUTH HAS A RECREATION PROBLEM

We need more activities to engage our youth. We need more opportunities for people to come together as a community, more festivals, more events, more things that make people want to visit Falmouth.

In the past, this has been approached casually with a few festivals a year. Falmouth has no real industry, but the scenery is immaculate. Why don’t we have any type of fishing tournaments? We are surrounded with water. Other towns have transformed with regular street fairs. There is one thing that we have an abundance of. Opportunity. There are so many ideas that would’nt require tons of money to implement. The bones are already here. With the right initiatives, we could draw people in regularly and keep them coming back.

FALMOUTH HAS COMBATIVE POLITICS

There’s been a serious divide between ideologies in our city government for some time now.. So much so that communication has all but collapsed. Good ideas have been shot down just because of who proposed them. Certain businesses have been boycotted all because of who owns the building. Politicians declare their goal to defeat opposing agendas . When politicians serve with the sole intent of blocking others instead of crafting effective plans of their own, the town loses.

Falmouth should not be held hostage by political flexing. Progress is not optional, it’s the only way forward.

FALMOUTH HAS INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES

This one’s no secret. Our infrastructure is crumbling. Whether it’s through grants, donations, or tax dollars, we need a major investment.

The water lines feeding our fire hydrants are failing. They’re patched until they fail again. This isn’t a someday problem, it’s already affecting safety, growth, and business decisions. No serious company is going to invest in a town with failing utilities.

And it’s not just water. How many times was the power out this summer? The electric grid needs the same future-focused attention.

These aren’t minor repairs, they’re mission-critical. Falmouth needs someone who can write, initiate, and follow through on grants and infrastructure funding. These are just the beginning of what needs attention.

FALMOUTH HAS PRIORITY ISSUES

The Falmouth Police Department has a budget exceeding one million dollars, for a city that’s 1.3 square miles. That’s not efficiency; that’s bloat.

There’s little justification for that kind of spending, especially when they continue to blur the lines with other jurisdictions. A serious campaign promise would be a plan to either let the county handle policing or dramatically trim the city department’s budget.

That money could and should be redirected toward things that actually improve the lives of residents.

FALMOUTH NEEDS BEAUTIFICATION

One recent idea involved incentives for painting storefronts. That’s a good start but it shouldn’t stop there.

A citywide beautification fund could support cleanups, tree trimming, sidewalk maintenance, painting services, and debris removal. This creates jobs. It supports local workers. It makes our town more attractive for residents and visitors. It also rewards the people and business owners who are already putting in the effort.

We’ve made progress but we need to push further. This Isn’t Radical. It’s Common Sense. These aren’t extreme ideas. They’re practical. Doable. Reasonable. Falmouth has so much untapped potential. These are the types of discussions that should shape what we expect from the people asking for our votes. Next week, we’ll turn our attention to Pendleton County as a whole.

Falmouth Doesn’t Have to Stay Stuck

Let’s be real. Falmouth has long had a reputation, one we don’t need to repeat here. That reputation doesn’t have to define the future. In fact, the past few years have shown that change is possible.

With the right Mayor and Council, we can rise above that reputation and build something better, something stronger than what existed before the flood of 1997. It’s time.

We encourage you to share your thoughts and your opinions in the comments. What issue mean the most to you? As always your whispers are kept confidential and are appreciated.

Whisper One Out.