set for July 30 at FUMC

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

It’s time for Alabama to arise and face the issues concerning its low-income citizens.

An opportunity for Pike Countians to be a part of this fast-growing Alabama Arise movement is planned for 7 p.m. July 30 in the round room of First United Methodist Church of Troy.

Nathan Morgan, Alabama Arise coordinator, will hold a Listening Session at the church and the public is invited and encouraged to attend, said Bobbi Swisher,

FUMC outreach coordinator.

"Alabama Arise has a goal of speaking to the Alabama Legislature with a strong voice in support of proposals that would benefit low-income citizens," Swisher said. "The July session will give the people of Troy and the surrounding area an opportunity to hear a report on the last legislative session and to discuss a slate of issues that the Arise coalition may address in the upcoming legislative year. Those present will have an opportunity to vote on the issues they believe are the most important."

Swisher said the Arise initiatives constitute a mission designed to help those least able to help themselves.

"Some of the issues that will be discussed include the landlord-tenant law, tax reform, public transportation and a moratorium on executions," she said.

According to Swisher, Alabama is one of two states with no landlord/tenant law, therefore there is no legal recourse for tenants or landlords in cases where property is not properly maintained or is mistreated.

Tax reform is a major issue, Swisher said, because Alabama currently has the lowest tax threshold in the nation -$4,600 for a family of four – and the second highest tax on poverty-level incomes.

"As a result, the state taxes poor families deeper into poverty," she said.

Transportation is a serious problem for many, especially for low-income individuals in rural areas.

"These people have difficulty getting to work, to doctors appointments, even to town to buy groceries or get prescriptions filled," Swisher said, adding that, at this time, the state puts no dollars into public transportation.

"That’s hard to believe because nearly 700,000 Alabamians are defined as ‘transportation disadvantaged," she said.

The

problem is especially acute in rural areas, but even in metropolitan areas, the transit systems are not adequate to serve many of those who need transportation to work, Swisher said.

The moratorium on executions is an income-related issue, according to Swisher.

"At the present time, Alabama has no state-wide public defender system and attorneys appointed to defend accused individuals are compensated at less than one-half of their regular rates in many localities," she said. "Arise proposes stopping executions for three years while an analysis of the fairness of the system is made."

These four issues will be discussed at First United Methodist Church on July 30 as well as other issues that Alabama Arise may support in the next legislative session.

Swisher said those in attendance will play an important role in determining which issues are considered most important.

"That is why we strongly encourage those who are interested in helping to improve the quality of life for our low-income citizens to attend," she said.