Disappointed
James Bordonaro
Friday, November 30, 2007
I WAS disappointed with the city’s response to the refugee resettlement issue.
Wednesday night’s meeting was held in a room that was too small to accommodate the public turnout. Also, the lack of a public address system meant that many in the crowd couldn’t hear the speakers.
My biggest problem with the meeting was that it seemed the public was not given sufficient opportunity to air their opinions and demand answers from our elected officials.
James Bordonaro
Emporia
b3bill (anonymous) says...
The 11/28 meeting should only be the start of periodic town meetings to ask questions and get updates on progress of working on the Somali situation. The next meeting has to be held in a bigger place with enough seating capacity and with a suitable sound system. Otherwise it will be considered nothing but manipulation to discourage as much attendance as possible.
Another meeting needs to be scheduled ASAP to be held in 3 months, if not sooner, and at periodic intervals afterwards, so the panelists/representatives will know there is continual expectation of them to get working on the problems and get them solved. Without follow up meetings, it is quite convenient for those responsible to easily distance themselves from the problems.
The Emporia community needs to hold all of the panelists/representatives to ongoing accountability on these issues. Making them face the community at regular meetings is a good way to accomplish this. Either they address these problems and work hard to solve them, and be able to show their commitment and progress, or they need to resign from their job/office.
I hope another meeting is scheduled soon so everyone who wants to attend can make appropriate plans to be there. It will also give the panelists/representatives a clear indication there is a nearing deadline when progress must be reported to the community. Just talking to the local news shouldn't be allowed as a substitute to having to face the Emporia community again to report progress.
These issues are serious, they concern Emporia. It's not just something you see on the news that happens far away in some other town. It's right here in your town.
November 30, 2007 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
infinicat (anonymous) says...
More eye to eye dialog is the way to go. Town meetings between Tyson and the citizenry and the resulting exchanges can only forge a relationship between the two.
---- Infinicat
December 1, 2007 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
--The next meeting has to be held in a bigger place with enough seating capacity and with a suitable sound system... -- YES, and with time regulations and a requirement that one or two questions be posed by those getting up to speak. And no preaching, please. While it has its merits, scolding scores of people who attend to listen for information about government isn't one. This would only serve to discourage future attendance.
--Another meeting needs to be scheduled ASAP to be held in 3 months, if not sooner, and at periodic intervals afterwards, so the panelists/representatives will know there is continual expectation of them to get working on the problems and get them solved. --
Absolutely! Underscore "solved." One of the most important things established on Wednesday night was a willingness for Emporians to attend town meetings not only to get information but to seek solutions. That is growth.
December 1, 2007 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )