WHERE IS BEAUMONT HEADED?

There seems to be a split opinion on whether or not Beaumont is growing or standing in a stagnant state. This was obvious at the city council meeting that was held on August 23rd. Four citizens spoke on the growth of the city. Temeka Davis started off the public comment session with a concern that she had with an issue that was under construction before she moved away. She had been gone for a few years and came back to find that the Concord Road Project was still underway. A bid was awarded in 2013 in the amount of $11,284,746. The project suffered major setbacks. We are now starting to see advancement in that area. Her husband, Herman Davis III, spoke on the potential that Beaumont has. He said that "downtown is a hidden jewel that should catch fire and be a major stop between Houston and New Orleans." Crockett Street Dining and Entertainment Complex was once a scene of food, live music, and a variety of nightclubs and bars. Now there is little to see. Riverfront park has lost some of its funding from the Capital Fund Project to the New Senior Center budget. There are hopes for investors to come in and develop the Riverfront property. What is in the future for the Beaumont Yacht Club? Was it worth assuming the responsibility of a $465,000 loan that was made known by John Guidry at the council meeting on April 5, 2016? Was it worth losing the profit of the property? We can only wait to see what the investor has planned. Officer Riley closed out the public comment session on a good note. She has "seen improvement with infrastructure, careers" and with the children in the community. Cops and Kids 2016 was a huge success. It was held at the Beaumont Civic Center. It attracted thousands of citizens and offered food, fun, and entertainment. One thing that we can all agree on is that we want to see our community thrive. We want to be seen in a positive light and be a place where citizens can raise their kids and retire. We want to see new faces. We all play a key role in making this possible.