Opinion is a good starting points in discussion.

America is facing some significant changes and people's opinions must be considered.

We watch on TV as America is burning on the news we must ask ourselves what we can do to end this and make changes to prevent a recurrence.

In my opinion, political leaders must reach out to their communities for anyone who has been a city resident for a long time and has experience in dealing with law enforcement and community issues. They should use the elected leaders that understand the law and social services. Use those that work or have worked in the addiction field as well as those in mental health. These are the people that will give you their opinion, advice, and honest feedback on moving in a new direction.

Here is what you do not do. You do not let your personal feeling or opinion of someone block you from their valuable experience. Don't look at the person, look at what they have to offer, what they can do to get your vision out in the community, and use it to better build your policy change plan.

Let's take a look at a recent meeting the mayor had where he reached out to some very select people to meet and discuss how the city police department can work with the community to prevent issues like we are seeing, but more importantly, to build an honest, fair unbiased police department.

The first big misstep was he didn't invite the public safety chairmen from the city council to the meeting. I for one don't understand how you hold ANY MEETING that is related to public safety and not have the public safety chairmen there. In Providence R.I. under mayor Buddy Cianci he had many big issues in South Providence and had to find a way to stop the violence and rebuild the neighborhood. They reached out to community advocates, leaders, social service, police street crime unit, and addiction field experts and formed a large group. His public safety chairmen, and he ran the first meeting then the chairman ran the rest. Go look at South Providence now. It's not as nice as when Buddy was mayor but millions in HUD money rebuilt all the housing and dumped money into program in that neighborhood for the kids and a youth center for activities.

Fall River has some real big problems that will take a mayor with the ability to work with EVERYONE and not pick people he can get along with. That will give him control but not a solid vetted plan. You need people who don't see eye to eye with you and can bring a different tone to the meetings so you get everything on the table, not just the surface.

The city of Fall River can be a great city again. But we cannot go from one administration that did not work with anyone they didn't like to another one and think anything is going to change, It won't. I ask Mayor Coogan, put aside you're feeling, put the campaign behind you. You said you would work with anyone that wanted to make the city better. You have not done that. I say to you. Stop listening to those who have an agenda to make money or be in power. Stop campaigning. Stop following and START leading. Make a discussion on your own. Even if its wrong. We will stand by you because you are trying. But following the GOV or the New Bedford mayor isn't leading, it's being afraid to piss off the powers that be and it's governing by committee. You wanted this job. Stand on your own and do it. PLEASE, we beg for a true leader, not a puppet.