We are residents of Quincy and supporters of the community calling for accountability from Alderperson Mike Adkins. Based on his recent actions in office and his conduct on social media, including reported instances of insulting and blocking constituents who disagree with him, we believe Alderperson Adkins should resign from public office.

Alderperson Adkins publicly stated that his support for cutting more than $170,000 from the Quincy Public Library budget was influenced by a personal negative experience during what he said on camera was his only visit to the library. Decisions about public funding at the local level should be based on data, community need, and an understanding of the services being provided, not isolated personal experience. Elected officials who choose to punish tens of thousands of their constituents over a personal antidote have no business making policy decisions for our community.

Multiple residents have reported being blocked from Alderperson Adkins’ social media page, even though it is used to communicate about city matters. This raises concerns about whether all constituents are being given equal access to information and engagement from their elected representative.

Elected officials are expected to serve the entire community and maintain professionalism in public communication. Public posts attributed to Alderperson Adkins have included calling for “liberals” to “keep stoking the fire” and responding to constituents with remarks such as, “Don’t you have some chalk to go play with on the sidewalks? Go away little girl.”

When major funding decisions are influenced by personal experience and when residents are effectively shut out from engagement with their elected officials, it undermines public trust in local government.

We are asking city leadership to take these concerns seriously and prioritize accountability and transparency moving forward. For these reasons, we believe Alderperson Mike Adkins has not met the standard expected of an elected official in Quincy and should resign.

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