So you pick up your local newspaper and find a headline that
signals a dispute in the city council. Reading further you learn that during a
recent meeting two alderman hurled personal insults at each other while the
mayor banged the gavel for order. At issue was whether to open a heavily
trafficked road to commercial development.
Researching the issue one learns that this community has
been at odds since the early 1950’s whether to develop the road or not. Heavily
wooded lots containing nearby homes keep a forested appearance to the area. For
suburbs up and down the highway commercialization has occurred for years. The
reason? Tax revenues.
In the case of your town the village is broke. The large
hospital is a non-profit and exempt from property taxes. They have their own
fire and police departments and don’t see the need to subsidize the village.
Trouble is the 70% or more of the traffic in town is aimed to and from the
hospital. Roads are not maintained well; police salaries outstrip the
department’s budget. So too, the benefit programs for the officers. The town
has even considered outsourcing the police function to the county sheriff’s
department. Not only is that not a popular solution locally, the county has neatly
avoided the issue with an administrative sidestep.
Decision: to develop available land revered by a lot of town
people, or keep the woodsy ambience alive for another generation? The town has
torn itself up for years arguing this issue. The discussion is not civil.
Downright ugly!
At least the public incivility demonstrates an issue
certainly exists. That’s a good first step, but what to do after that?
The first step I think is to lower the decibels surrounding
the discussion. Personalities and incivility
only power up more anger, resentment and hyperbole. Arguments become outlandish
and unhelpful.
Differences of opinion contain the elements of solutions.
They have to be examined closely to realize they are there, but the analysis is
helpful. Actually, solving a problem begins with a clear minded definition of
the problem in the first place. What is wrong. What are the operative pieces
that make it wrong? What could we do temporarily to lessen the effects of the
problem? That sort of discussion is helpful. Yelling at each other is not.
As a planning consultant for nearly 30 years, I understand
how protective discussants become over what they fear will be lost to change. The
seed to further discussion is realizing that we all fear losing something. What
is it? Identify it. Perhaps we are all afraid of losing something that the
community relies on to identify itself!
We should all protect that. But do we agree with the definition of that
special something?
Do trees define the town? Do woodsy preserves define who we
are as a community? Or is it something else.
That is the starting point to solving a host of problems for this
community I think. The trick is to get people to calm down enough so they can
become an active participant in solving the problem.
While calm returns, why not begin the process of envisioning
the town’s future 10 to 20 years in the future? What do we want our village to
look like? What key elements must be present to identify who we are as a
community? How should we treat each other? What do we each need from community
life, and what can we each return to it?
These things are not automatic. They are the result of
intentional actions, planning and highly technical engineering and management.
All of these elements are major assets for a community. They are the assets
that are used and renewed in operating a community that is focused on serving
the long term interests of all its residents. And businesses. And service
agencies, churches, public servants, etc.
It helps to imagine our town without these problems. Sort of
like giving peace a chance to do its magic!
Perhaps my neighboring town should try this approach. They
have everything to gain and absolutely everything to lose if they don’t.
Heck, I’ll even donate my time and experience to help with
the process if they want. Anyone listening?
I’ll let you know.
July 5, 2013
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