Should Little Rock and North Little Rock merge?

[Stormcrow]

Considering the momentum and favor that Patrick Hays sees right now in NLR, I'd have to agree that it's a pipe dream at the moment. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong, but I don't see any signs leading towards a merger...actually I see signs the other way. Not saying that's good or bad, just noting the current environment.

[Architect]

Perhaps mergers of the smaller communities North of the river with NLR could gain some traction and get LR into a competitive spirit?

In the long run, I think anything of this nature is vital in making the region more nationally competitive.

[turboturtle]

There has to be some sort of catalyst for a merger environment. My hunch is that there has to be a period dire straits that force City staff cuts that threaten the ability to govern and provide basic services. In a more difficult economic climate, the prospect of merging Cities probably looks more appealing to a larger population. Another potential catalyst might be a population boom. There has to be some economic trend that correlates to cities becoming willing to merge. Anyone have an insights here? I do not believe a ballot initiative brought about by petition is going to cut it.