Dear Athenians,
I write you today to let everybody know the reasons I am running for City Council at-large and to correct some of the comments I have made and/or been misquoted on.
People make mistakes, and I’ll be the first to admit when I have. I stated in a couple articles that I would cut ARTS/West from the city budgeting, citing about $10,000 in property taxes. I misread the City Comprehensive Financial Report, and I apologize. The city actually only pays about $110 per year on ARTS/West’s property taxes.
Also, after I have gone door to door talking to fellow Athenians, they have left me with an overwhelming message. That message is that ARTS/West is something worth keeping, and so I want to go on record and retract all comments I’ve made about getting rid of ARTS/West. I believe this is the best way to truly represent the thoughts of my fellow Athenians.
I am sorry to those whom I have upset with this honest misunderstanding and comments that followed.
I want to also make a correction to a quote I was misquoted on by a local paper.
I was quoted as saying I wanted to “privatize the City Code Office,” but what I actually said during the debate is that I want “to leave the Code Office the way it is and would possibly be open to the idea of privatizing litter control.”
I also previously thought about tearing down the armory and using it for a new parking garage, but upon further consideration, I would like to change my stance from putting a parking garage there to putting a community garden there.
The armory sits atop one of our most well-known street in Athens. Rather than spend about $1,000,000 to bring the armory up to code, a community garden could be put in its place.
The cost of food is going up, and what better way for Athenians to alleviate some of the dent to our wallets than a community garden? This would show all who visit Athens what we Athenians are all about: community, sustainability and progress.
I hope this helps people learn that I am a person willing to admit when I am wrong and willing to change by listening to my fellow Athenians. I hope this also clarifies some statements I have made.
Please do not hesitate to set up a time to meet up and talk. My email is ia239007@ohiou.edu, phone number is 740-590-5352, website is Abe4Athens.org and address is 10 Milliron Street, Apartment E2.
Let’s talk. Win or lose, I love this town and will continue to fight for it in or out of public office.
Ibriham Alassaf is a junior studying history and is a candidate for an Athens City Council at-large seat.
