Becky Olson wrote:
Hi list members..A few nights ago I went to the Mayor's meeting with
community people to discuss the McKenzie report, some of you were there, but
it's been very quiet on the list..any I missing something??? I for one
support the change and urge the City Council members & Mayor to do so also..
Our Mayor seems to want it too..What about all of you???
I too was there and have been impressed with the thoroughness of the study and the focus it seems to be providing.
I am concerned though about how this will ultimately affect neighborhoods and neighborhood organizations. Deputy Mayor David Fey said that one goal was to give neighborhoods greater influence citing that in the present scenario neighborhoods control only NRP money. The key here is that presently neighborhoods don't merely "influence" how NRP money is spent they "control" it - within certain guidelines. That's a whole lot more tangible than simply being given "influence" over spending.
I welcome this unified vision and goal setting with regard to citywide issues. It can be one that provides neighborhoods with a clearer framework in which to work. And I would welcome tighter guidelines for how neighborhoods spend the dollars that are allocated to them. But my hope is that we are not now in a process of stripping neighborhoods of their ability to make local decisions nor stripping them of all control over financial matters. That doesn't seem to be the case, but .....
Paul Lohman
President, Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association
Paul Lohman
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
