Letter from the Arkansas Municipal League

BE LOCAL, BE HEARD

Catchy phrase, isn’t it?! I say it all the time. In fact, it’s the Arkansas Municipal League’s messaging campaign for the cities and towns of Arkansas. It means a great deal to many of us local government types. We use it to describe the importance of local control, otherwise known as home rule. What’s that you say? You’re not following me. Message received! Ol’ Mark is hitting the reverse button to put everything in perspective. At least I hope that’s where we’re headed. If not, holler again and I’ll double back.

Perhaps a good place to start is with a few terms and their definitions. I’ll stay away from the legalese despite my lawyerin’ background. Here we go:

Home Rule. Legally there are two types of home rule. Hard stop. Sorry. No legalese. Let’s go to the triedand-true Merriam-Webster online dictionary which describes home rule as follows: “self-government or limited autonomy in internal affairs by a dependent political unit (such as a territory or municipality).” Admittedly a tad stiff but I think you get the idea. Essentially, the residents of a municipality elect people to make decisions about what works best in that city or town. After all, these elected officials live there and engage with their citizens all the time. Thus, decisions on zoning, parks, water, sewer, streets, public safety and a myriad of other matters that touch the daily lives of those citizens are best left to the people elected locally to make those decisions. In other words, city hall can take care of its own business without mandates, dictates or pre-emptions from state or federal government.

Local Control. See home rule. Personally, I think the term local control is more easily understood by those unfamiliar with the concept. Afterall, if something is being “locally controlled” it stands to reason it’s not being controlled up the food chain, so to speak.

Be Local, Be Heard. A catchphrase that evokes the concept of local control and urges action. The action part is “be heard.” As in: When municipal powers are legislatively attacked municipal citizens need to speak up…LOUDLY. Now that I think about it, I’ve jumped the gun. The “be heard” action is not conflict based. Rather, municipal citizens and officials should actively educate everyone they encounter about the benefits of local control. Think of it this way: If you see equipment in need of repair at a National Park, who do you call in Washington D.C. to fix it and how long do you think it’ll take? If the equipment at a city park needs attention you know you can easily get a hold of city hall and the repair will happen quickly. A terribly simple example but I bet you get the idea.

The League launched the Be Local, Be Heard campaign at the 2020 Winter Conference. We had a marching band, cheerleaders, thunder sticks and yes, a t-shirt cannon! Don’t believe me? Search #BeLocalBeHeard on our social channels (@armunileague) to relive the exciting kickoff. Given the pandemic, that mid-February 2020 event seems like eons ago. I’d reference the Ice Age or dinosaurs but that seems a tad melodramatic. Granted, “eons” is a bit strong, too. I mention the timeframe only to urge all of us to dust off the cobwebs of the COVID years and get excited about local government all over again. Be Local, Be Heard. And let’s get engaged now.

Arkansas is an incredible state and our cities and towns are no different. Municipalities in the Natural State are unique, and they are fueled by social, cultural and economic energy. The reverse is also true. At the local level cities and towns are the catalyst of that social, cultural and economic growth. Municipalities provide streets, neighborhoods, parks, public safety, water, recreation and a vibrant spirit that attract businesses, churches and schools. It is the community that draws people to become citizens and local leaders. Those people control their own destiny. That local control is what makes our cities and towns true homes to most Arkansans. By being local and being heard we speak up for that unique nature of our homes. We speak to the greatness of setting a course suitable for that particular city knowing it may differ slightly from the town just down the road. That’s the magic of home rule. It’s your home and you should call the shots.

Your municipality is yours. By speaking to its unique qualities and local leadership you remind folks just how great it is to live there. We need to tell our stories about summer sports leagues, wellness centers, new streets, clean water and the many opportunities we enjoy each and every day. Own our problems and mistakes by all means but take pride in the ease with which municipal government operates to resolve those issues efficiently and effectively. Here’s our chance…

BE LOCAL, BE HEARD!

Mark R. Hayes Executive Director Arkansas Municipal League