Page 7 - CEEM Shopping Mag November 2019

Local Matters

By Charleco Scipio Jr.

This “Local Matters” mindset applies to economics too. In terms of business, the small Mom-and-Pop
business owners are signi cant members of the community. In many cases, the money that they
make as small business owners is then spent locally. For Black communities, this is imperative.
The Black dollar is recycled signi cantly less than dollars in other ethnic communities. As a result,
spending money on small black businesses helps to stimulate that local economy, helps them to
continue to stay in business, and oftentimes even provide local opportunities for jobs. Many small
business owners also purchase from local suppliers, and when it comes time to give back, it is the
community in which they live and operate their business that bene ts.

Local matters for the next generation as well. It is critical that we are aware of what is going on locally
within our schools and school districts. More than parent-teacher conferences, we must be mindful of
the local and state legislation that e ect our educational systems. These decisions will have both
immediate and long-term e ects for the children we are sending to these schools. We must make it a
point to be in the process of voting for our superintendents, principals, and school board members.

Another area where local support is of great importance is transportation. An up-and-coming city that
is a perfect example is Santa Monica. The city has an innovative bussing system with a new connecting
rail line. With the push to “Go Green,” Santa Monica has been struggling with the new E-Bike &
E-Scooter trends. While I love the scooters and think they are a great alternative to driving or walking,
I also do not live in that community to experience the challenges that come with this new
transportation method. Residents of Santa Monica have been adamant about their call to regulate it,
and I believe this local push has been quite successful as patrons and businesses immersed in the new
industry are more strictly regulated and held accountable. This is a credit to the local community, as it
is not something they took to a federal or national government level. They rallied the community as a
resource to make a change they felt would be safe and bene cial for their city, and it worked!

With all that is going on in the world, we can start to be the change we seek by focusing on local aspects.
This will have a direct in uence on the national aspects of the issues and challenges we face. Take the
baby steps and get “in the know.” Research your local events and elections. See what you can do to
get involved with the decision-making processes. And remember Local Matters.

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