MILTON — Since the early ‘90s, Al Brewton has been involved with Milton community development. He frequently attends Milton Council meetings but wants to see more people involved.
His interest was personal at first, pushing for paving Jasmine Street and his mother, Raymoner W. Brewton, encouraging him to seek improvements on Clara Street.
After joining Men With Vision in 1995, his community interest expanded. Working with the nonprofit, Brewton was a part of changing the name of Clara Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in 2002.
Brewton advocates for being involved in local politics to see change.
“It’s the only way to get something done,” Brewton said. “If you’re not at the table, you’ll get the crumbs. That’s why I go to meetings.”
Being involved with local government started as a personal necessity to improve the streets where he grew up, according to Brewton. Now he works to see development in his community.
“I’m not a city resident, but my heart is in the city, my property, my family,” Brewton said. “The neighborhood I grew up in, I don’t want to see it neglected any kind of way. To my last dying breath, I’ll speak truth to power in that aspect.”
Brewton retired from Sterling Chemical in 2002 and currently owns Dimensions Barber and Beauty on Mary Street.
One of Brewton’s concerns for the city is freer access to alcohol.
“More bars and taverns, I don’t think that’s economic development,” he said. “I don’t think that’s the future for Milton. I don’t want to see New Orleans-style bars.”
His other concern is with discord on the council.
“The council is split,” he said. “I don’t want that to happen. I want to see them work more together.”
Brewton does like seeing beautification efforts in the medians along Highway 90 as well as the changing of the city seal to remove the rebel flag.
“If we (Men With Vision) hadn’t gotten involved, it wouldn’t have changed,” he said.
Brewton’s hopes for the future of Milton are economic and social.
“I’d like to see better paying jobs,” he said, “and a more diverse workforce in all centers, the county and city and all, more diverse employment.”
People have asked Brewton to run for political office, he said, but prefers making a difference as a private citizen.
“I think I can get more done from the floor,” he said. “If you can get enough people together, you can change some votes. Together as a community, you can get more done as opposed to one single person.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Regular Milton Council attendee encourages community involvement