A political pollster recently asked potential voters what they thought about ignorance and apathy regarding the 2024 elections. The top two responses were “I don’t know” and “I don’t care.”
While the fictitious pollster joke is old, the fact remains that many FWAA members experience paralyzing political apathy. Last month, Pillow Talk addressed the advocacy obstacle “fear” and how to overcome fear with involvement. This month, Pillow Talk explores how to transform apathy into purpose.
“I don’t know” and “I don’t care” make dinner and workplace conversations easier.
Our democratic-republic system is under increasing pressure from all sides of the political spectrum. Democracy is messy. Government of, for, and by the people is hard. Politicians are unlikeable. As voters, many FWAA members believe that they continually face the “lesser of two evils” or “the evil of two lessors.” Given the current public environment, some FWAA members choose to retreat into the safety and comfort of apathy.
“I don’t know” and “I don’t care” make dinner and workplace conversations easier.
The obstacle: Apathy is not warm and fuzzy. Apathy robs FWAA members’ motivation to make a difference. Indifference, unconcern, and emotionlessness prevent FWAA members from reaching their collective advocacy potential. Our current system is broken, and FWAA members must be part of the solution.
The action: Overcome apathy by identifying the underlying cause. Have an honest conversation with yourself about “why” you are apathetic. Next, brainstorm how you would solve the various political issues (from taxes to immigration and inflation to jobs). Finally, identify your passion. Is it crime and safety, transportation, energy costs, or education?
The attribute: Overcoming apathy leads to a purpose-driven approach to advocacy—your goal to make housing attainable leads to a meeting with elected officials to advocate for additional multifamily development. Core values foster a sense of belonging and an awareness that your voice does matter.
Attribute Tip: FWAA member Dawn Waye is running in the Republican primary for Denton County Tax Assessor. Dawn is running to bring a real estate perspective to the property tax office. Be sure to support Dawn as she pursues her passion.
If you would like more information about personal involvement in FWAA advocacy, please email Perry Pillow at perry@aatcnet.org
MARCH 5TH PRIMARY – Almost 100 candidates have filed to run in the March 5th congressional, state, and county primary elections in FWAA’s service area. More than 25 candidates are running in FWAA-area congressional contests, including FWAA member Craig Goldman, who is running in the Republican primary to replace retiring Texas congressional district 12 congresswoman Kay Granger. Six candidates are vying for the open congressional District 26 seat. Long-time FWAA friend state representative Stephanie Klick (HD 91) has a primary opponent, as do FWAA-friendly incumbent state representatives Dewayne Burns and Glenn Rogers. Tarrant County Tax Assessor Wendy Burgess also has a primary opponent. Several incumbent constables are being challenged as well. Most importantly, FWAA member Dawn Waye is running in the Republican primary for Denton County Tax Assessor. A full list of AATC PAC-endorsed candidates will appear in the March 2024 Pillow Talk.
BEDFORD AGGRESSIVENESS CONTINUES – Bedford city officials continued aggressively enforcing multifamily inspections despite repeated FWAA efforts to mitigate unreasonable code enforcement tactics. FWAA will remain vigilant in holding Bedford city officials accountable for fair and open communication with FWAA members.
MANSFIELD INSPECTION ORDINANCE UPDATE – Mansfield is updating its multifamily inspection program, including increasing fees to $20 per unit per year.
FWAA ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP – FWAA Treasurer April Royal, Vice President of Property Management for Birchstone Residential, will serve as FWAA’s 2024 Government Affairs Committee Chair and Chair of the AATC PAC. In addition to April Royal, the 2024 AATC PAC trustees include FWAA officers President Bryan Downer (Community Enrichment Center), President-elect Sarah Turner (Olympus), FWAA Secretary Nicole Zaitoon (Allied Property Management), FWAA Vice President Amy Alvarez (MFI), Immediate Past President Cayce Coon (Madera), and Past President Patty Utley (Portico). FWAA advocacy staff includes CEO Kevin Pellegrino and Director of Government Affairs Perry Pillow.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE AATC PAC – FWAA advocacy efforts depend on all our members doing their part to support candidates that align with FWAA’s financial interests. Please contribute to the FWAA PAC by clicking on the following link: https://form.jotform.com/220464310148143
Perry Pillow is FWAA’s Director of Government Affairs. For more information, contact Perry at ppillow@aatcnet.org or call 817-701-6353
