Andy Driscoll wrote: > Citizen advisory groups are a complete sham, no matter what they're > "studying." They're designed to shut us up, and to stop a revolt over the > lack of citizen participation when neighborhoods and democracy are being run > over rough-shod. <snip>
While I agree they often do not have the impact they should to call them a complete sham is simply not true. The most important thing they do is to create a consensus of opinion between community members. Enough of these community members remain in the community long enough to establish a historical context for the issues at hand. (Witness the 30+ year discussion of Hiawathia avenue). The ability of these individuals to say "the community agreed to ..." sends a strong political message. I think of a certain senator who went contrary to the West River Rd advisory council and tried to force an at grade crossing at Lake. I would also argue that the citizen advisory groups prevented Hiawatha. Ave from becoming a I394. The travesty of the Hwy. 55 reroute was that there was no Citizen Advisory Group that, at least to my knowledge, ever discussed the route beyond the park. O'Yea, one other thing they do is to put a group of individuals with working knowledge of the issue in the community where a well organized community group can distribute their knowledge. Citizens without a specific agenda are much more credible than politicians or their staff. Cheers; -- DeWayne Townsend 3222 39th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-724-7010 [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
