Fargo First

It's time to debate again!

Politics & A Plate – Fargo Wards Debate

With the Fargo Wards petition officially qualifying for a special election, now is the time to learn both sides of the issue.

Supporters of a ward style system want to replace the city’s at large commission system with a ward-based city council where representatives would be required to live in the areas they serve.

Join us on Tuesday, August 4th at 5:00 PM at the Avalon Events Center for a live debate featuring:

Michelle Turnberg – Opposing the Fargo Wards proposal

Arlette Preston – One of the leading advocates for the Fargo Wards proposal

This is your chance to hear directly from two of the strongest voices on each side before Fargo voters make this important decision.

Bring your questions, bring a friend, and be part of the conversation. An informed community makes better decisions.

Avalon Events Center
Tuesday, August 4th
5:00 PM

No matter where you stand on the issue, we encourage everyone to attend and hear both perspectives.

RSVP by emailing [email protected] to lock in your early bird dinner pricing today!

Or

For more information and to sign up to attend this event, click here:

https://www.facebook.com/ccurc

As Fargo city leaders and department heads continue discussing the 2027 budget, there's one request that should rise to the top of the priority list.

Fargo Police Chief Travis Stefonowicz is requesting funding for 8 additional police officers, and this is an investment worth making.

Our city continues to grow, calls for service continue to increase, and our officers are being asked to do more every year. We can't expect them to keep up with rising demands without giving them the manpower they need.

We can debate spending on studies, consultants, incentives, and other non-essential projects all day long. But keeping our neighborhoods safe is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of local government.

Currently, the City of Fargo has 201 officers, which is about 1.4 cops per thousand Fargo residents. The department’s goal has been 1.6 officers per thousand residents. Stefonowicz told commissioners the city would need 240 officers to meet their goal. The national average is 2 cops per thousand residents.

Public safety isn't an expense, it's a priority

BRAN NEW UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF SELECTIVE SYMPATHY!

Tired of accidentally wasting your precious outrage on a tragedy that doesn't help your political team win points? Debating which grieving families deserve your compassion this week?

Don't worry, the media and politicians have done the math for you! Introducing our official "Outrage Allocation Guide" to help you navigate the news feed. Please memorize your talking points before typing in ALL CAPS:

IF AN ICE ENFORCEMENT AGENT IS INVOLVED:

Response Time: Instantaneous.
The Verdict: The entire system is inherently evil, the agency must be abolished immediately, and we need to burn down the concept of borders by Tuesday.
Hashtag:

IF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IS HARMED BY AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT:

Response Time: Complete, deafening silence. (Wait at least 72 hours to "gather the facts").
The Verdict: It's a "highly complex, isolated sociological anomaly." Mentioning border security is deeply problematic. Please look over here at this celebrity drama instead.
Hashtag: None. Shhhh.

WARNING: A dangerous glitch has been reported where some users are trying to practice "consistent human decency." These individuals claim that all human life has value, that public safety matters, AND that grieving families deserve justice regardless of who committed the crime.

Please report these people immediately. They are ruining the internet.

Marco Rubio deports illegal immigrant child ra**st after Tim Walz pardoned him.

Some decisions should never be about politics. They should be about right and wrong.

A child was victimized. A criminal was convicted. The justice system did its job.

Then a Tim Walz pardon was granted, and a decision that left many people asking a simple question:

Where do we draw the line?

When it comes to protecting children, there should be no debate and no excuses. The rights and safety of victims must always come before the comfort of those who committed terrible crimes.

President Trump and Marco Rubio then made the decision to remove a convicted child predator from the country and have this criminal deported, and many Americans see and should see that as putting public safety first.

This is also a reminder of why agencies like ICE exist. Every day, immigration officers work to remove dangerous criminals and protect communities. The lives saved by keeping violent offenders away from potential victims "FAR" outweigh the criticism aimed at the agency.

A pardon may change a legal record, but it does not erase the pain of a victim. It does not undo what happened.

Our first responsibility as a society is to protect the innocent, especially children.

Justice should always remember the victims. Public safety should always come first.

Rubio should have sent Tim Walz with him!

It's scary that our Government has to protect us from our own Government. Imagine hiring a security guard and then needing another security guard to watch the first one.

One thing many people hate to see are large corporations receiving taxpayer-funded incentives for their projects.

Most people don't expect small businesses or local families to get special deals, so it's understandable why they question huge companies that receive these incentives.

Supporters will argue incentives create jobs and grow the local economy.

Economic development incentives in Fargo have been and still are under more scrutiny than they've been in years.

At the upcoming July 20th City Commission meeting, staff will be presenting a memo announcing a comprehensive review of the City's incentive policies, procedures, and approval process.

The memo explains that City staff is reviewing how incentives are administered and says there is an opportunity for "refinement of policies and processes" as part of the Growth Plan update. It also outlines how PILOTs, TIF renewals, and other incentive programs are currently handled and indicates recommendations, and next steps will be coming.

With growing public discussion about tax incentives, transparency, and accountability, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.

As the City reviews these policies, residents deserve to know how decisions are made, who benefits, and what return taxpayers receive.

If a project only works because taxpayers have to subsidize it, maybe it's not the right project. Public money should serve the public, not corporate balance sheets.

Anybody agree with this?

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, have now passed the daylight savings time bill.

The bill is the Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139). The House vote was 308–117, and it would make Daylight Savings Time permanent nationwide, meaning Americans would stop changing clocks twice a year.

What happens next:

-Passed the House
-Goes to the Senate
-If the Senate passes it, and it is signed into law, the country will remain on Daylight Saving Time year-round.

For North Dakota, this would be a big change:

-Fargo would stay on Central Daylight Time (UTC-5) all year.
-Winter mornings would be darker (sunrise could be close to 9 a.m. in some northern areas).
-Winter evenings would have more daylight.

Also, this could affect the 2027 North Dakota legislative session, because states may have the ability to opt out and choose permanent standard time if the federal law allows it. A North Dakota legislator/legislators could potentially push for a state response if the federal bill passes, but the state’s options would depend on the final language Congress approves.

On July 14, 2023, Officer Jake Wallin made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our community. At just 23 years old, he answered the call to serve with courage, honor, and selflessness.

Jake was not only a Fargo Police Officer but also a military veteran who dedicated his life to serving others. His watch ended far too soon, but his legacy of bravery will never be forgotten.

Today, we remember Officer Wallin, pray for his family, friends, and the Fargo Police Department, and honor all law enforcement officers who put on the badge each day, knowing the risks they face.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13

End of Watch: July 14, 2023.
We will never forget.