Demand better
If there was one thing I could do in 2010, it would be to inspire the electorate to demand better out of their elected representatives.
We seem to feel we are special case here in Windsor. We feel we either don’t deserve to have progressive, responsive politicians, or we don’t believe it’s possible to have progressive, responsive politicians.
If it seems that I am obsessed with the election on October 25, it is because I sorta am. As much as I believe that it will be the grassroots activists and engaged citizenry who will lead this community out of the doldrums it is mired in, I feel that to have a city hall who listens to and reacts with these citizens that we will be sure to rebound quickly.
Imagine if we elected a mayor like Seatles Mike McGinn…
Biking to Work with Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn
by Clarence Eckerson, Jr. on February 16, 2010When Seattleites elected a new mayor at the end of 2009, they really went for a breath of fresh air. In the general election, Mayor Mike McGinn, who rides a bike to work daily, was outspent nearly four to one. The race was very close, but with an energetic volunteer base — and a campaign that emphasized many livable streets issues — he pulled out the victory.
Only a few weeks into the new administration, I got the chance to commute with Mayor McGinn from his home in Greenwood to City Hall. It wasn’t hard to convince him, seeing as he’s a longtime Streetfilms fan, going back to his days as the founder of an organization called Great City.
As you’ll see, McGinn has a lot of great things to say. Particularly exciting is a new website called Ideas for Seattle, which asks residents what they would like to see the mayor focus on. Take a look: A good dozen of the current Top 20 could be classified as livable streets issues. (Note: I think other cities should replicate this.) So we wish Mayor McGinn the best and can’t wait to check back in a few years to see what kind of changes have taken place.
To have a mayor like McGinn would, overnight, make our city streets safer and more hospitable. Our downtown would be a better place to open a business or take the family out for an evening stroll.
If we elected councillors and a mayor who actually shared our streets with us on a daily basis, we would know that our concerns are being listened to and addressed.
Is that too much to ask? I think it should be the bare minimum to expect.
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They key to a responsive (dare I say, responsible) city hall is accountability. If city hall is not, or cannot be, held accountable they will never be the council that the electorate demanded. Of course, we often get the politicians we deserve…
You both make excellent arguements but I would like to throw in there the “can’t” attitude of some administration departments.
I have never heard of (nor have friends who live in other cities when I tell them the responses we receive) so many responses of “we can’t do this” or “we can’t do that” when speaking with administration. The other issue is blaming other departments ie: Waiting for something from another department, the other department will not allow it etc…
A rhetorical question; but why is it always “can’t” followed by a long rambling reason why (only to find out it isn’t true) an idea won’t happen instead of why we “can” do it or how to make something happen.
Windsor has become the capitol of can’t!
I say let’s hold EVERYONE accountable, keep our councillors feet to the fire and vote for those who CAN make it happen.
A viscious circle yes, but the cycle can be stopped. Let’s do it this election!
What makes us so different, though, Dave? I agree that we must terminate this apathy we’ve grown to love, but how?
If you ask me, it will take incremental change and a community that celebrates those little changes as stepping stones to a mutually agreed-upon goal. We are seeing our little changes (we didn’t celebrate the 10 ward system change nearly as much as we should have!) but I still do not believe the community has rallied around a common, mutually agreed-upon goal yet.
Until that happens (that is the first thing we should have done!) I fear we will be merely treading water.
I don’t disagree with you at all Chris.
I think the city has to start implementing steps that create places where people want to live. Right now the only offer is suburbia with a little bit of Walkerville or Riverside thrown in. If these same
By explaining to people what they are missing when electing officials who ignore them these people will start to understand and come around.
Education is the key here (and it will take time just as much as the apathy that has set in took many years to form).
Sometimes politicians have to save people from themselves. If politicians listen to those in the know, they too become educated. As much as The Star can be a pain in the ass, there are many there that are getting it. As we have sen lately with many articles. But if politicans ignore whqat is best for the populace (which believe it or not is pretty similar to what industry wants) then we demand their removal by petitioning, and making it very difficult for them to go about their daily business. In essence, keeping their feet to the fire.
I also believe by promoting candidates (or fielding them if need be) to the best of our ability, those that believe in the direction we need to go is another option.
When a whole slew of candidates ineach ward are on the same page that cannot be ignored.
John apparently likes personal attacks. We don’t. So I deleted his comment.