Grand Rapids taxpayers have had enough. It’s time for our City Commissioners to stop treating our hard-earned money like their personal piggy bank for woke pet projects and start addressing the foundational issues that actually matter to the hard-working families of this city: our crumbling infrastructure.

Every single Grand Rapids resident knows the frustration of navigating potholes deep enough to swallow a small car. Go down Wealthy Street or try to take the Fulton exit—it’s an obstacle course. Yet, when we look at the City Commission’s recent budget votes, what do we see prioritized? Not fixing the roads, not boosting our police presence, and certainly not lowering the tax burden on struggling small businesses.

Instead, we are seeing significant funds funneled into initiatives that, frankly, sound more like items from a college seminar reading list than essential city services. We need transparency on exactly where this money is going and who is benefitting. Is it really a priority to spend hundreds of thousands on “studies” and “commissions” when our police officers are stretched thin and residents are footing massive bills at the mechanic?

This isn’t about being against progress; it’s about common sense. When the roof leaks, you fix the roof before you repaint the living room. Our city’s foundation—the roads, the sidewalks, the safe neighborhoods—is cracking. But City Hall seems more concerned with pursuing a progressive agenda that divides our community rather than unites us under basic principles of good governance.

The silent majority in Grand Rapids demands accountability. We elect leaders to manage the city efficiently, safely, and fiscally responsibly. That means the focus must be on core functions:

Pothole Repair: Make our streets safe and drivable again. Public Safety: Fully fund and support the Grand Rapids Police Department so they can tackle the real crime issues we face. Taxpayer Relief: Stop imposing endless new fees and regulations on homeowners and local entrepreneurs.

The residents are awake, and we are watching. We need leaders who will stand up for the true needs of Grand Rapids, not those who are simply auditioning for their next political position by catering to out-of-town special interests. It is time for a drastic course correction. Demand that your City Commissioner stops the unnecessary spending and puts Grand Rapids first! The next election is closer than you think.