Gotta love Jon Baliles, aka “Snoopy,” over at RiverCity Rapids blog. He sat through the public comment session on a baseball stadium for downtown Richmond and summarized an incredible number of three minute opinions.
I don’t know how local government officials do it. I can’t bear to watch more than a few televised moments of such meetings. It’s raw, pure democracy, but it’s one thing I’m more than happy to have the fourth estate cover for me. Or are blogs a “fifth estate?”
(comments below)
While serving on the local planning commission, I experienced the whole enchilada.
As a commissioner, you could always count on seeing the NIMBYs and the Come-here’s and few local nut-cases with contentious zonings. But what simply amazed me is … The shear number of average Joe & Jane citizens who would fabricated bureaucratic conversations and government conspiracy theories at these public hearings.
Basically, say anything to stop a zoning.
For 20-years leading up to the PC appointment, I was a faithful member and served on the board of directors with several environmental organizations in the valley.
But was often accused of being in the pockets of the developers and building interests.
Go figure! (We, county commissioners, received a $50 monthly stipend for our efforts.)
Today, I often volunteer and lobbied for environmental causes in the region. I’m a legislative contact in my House district for the VCN and VaLCV.
I served on the City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for several years. Luckily, we didn’t get much of a turnout for our hearings–there wasn’t too much controversy, unless we were going to spray Round-up on the poison ivy along the trails.
I do remember when we were considering the addition of a playground firetruck that had a sprinkler system for hot weather use. One mother opposed it because “it would be too much fun for the kids.”
Steve, it’s great that you are still active in civic affairs. I think it gives you an extra dollop of credibility–no think tank pronouncements from you!
Don’t read me wrong about the citizen’s remarks, I truly enjoyed the public hearings and the decision-making process behind managed or smart growth in Rockingham County.
But I do get around.
Matter of fact, I met Jim Bacon at the “Reconnecting Virginia” event held in Barboursville last year.
Under the tent for historical preservation, Jim sat next to me for the lecture. I said, “Hey, you’re the Bacon’s Rebellion guy!”
He replied, “So, you’re the Blue Dog?”
Well, for sixteen years I was an elected city council member, and I stand ready to top anyone’s public hearing stories. When I started, we found ourselves hosting these versions of the Jerry Springer show. There’s some entertainment value in them, but they do NOT reflect the public. Worse, they exclude the thoughtful consideration of different possibilities. They generate far more heat than light.
By the end of my time, I had a much better idea how to foster public engagement. But there are two barriers: one, the fossilized institutional format, and, two, the lack of relevant, useable information for the public. No wonder pyrotechnics take over!
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