Bob Johnson wrote:
"However, when it came to the turnout of C-RWB voters eligible to vote
for authorizing the expenditure of $1,500,000 in NRP funds about that
same time, it was a very different type of democracy, a dubious
democracy to be nice. Of the 6,212 C-RWB residents eligible to vote,
about 60 did vote, allowing a voter turnout of 1% to be easily calculated."
Most neighborhoods, I suspect, have nowhere near the turnout at local meetings that they do for a national election. It is a shame that this is true, and I believe that most, if not all, of us who work on behalf of our neighborhoods wish it were not. Even though the turnout for NRP review is small, at least it is a review by residents. I don't see how it would be better to let the city council determine where the money is spent. There are roughly 80 neighborhoods but only 13 city council members. Surely it is better to have 60 C-RWB residents making the decisions about C-RWB than having them made by the city council where only one member represents C-RWB's interests and that member also represents the interests of other neighborhoods. While turnout may not be impressive, at least the people affected are the ones who have the option of being part of the decision.
The system isn't perfect. We need to work on more citizen participation. But I don't think the solution is to dismantle a system that gives the neighborhoods a voice. When people care enough, they get involved.
Dorothy Titus, Jordan Neighborhood
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