Although this article was written in 2008, it articulates the continued frustration residents feel with CoSA’s lack of meaningful public engagement on plans that directly affect neighborhoods such as the Corridor Plans and now the SHIP recommendations and Bond process. While there is no doubt there have been many changes for the better, the SHIP public input process has shown us that, if it is in the City’s interest, public participation will be curtailed and/or ignored. What is striking, is that if we vote in council members who voice the concerns of residents, they too, will be marginalized. Like us they are often asked to make decisions on documents with little time to read or they are scolded on the dais for voicing the concerns of their constituents. The City’s desire for engaged and informed citizenry only holds true if that citizenry agrees with the City’s process or interests. City Hall will make the case that the City’s interests are the interests of us all, but we know, from bitter experience, that is often not the case.
Inner City Neighborhood Perspectives