You are welcome and thank you for your insightful response....
Let us not allow your legislative ideas/concerns to be in the settling dust bowl for the next 4 years then. Let's get a community of supporters, put it in writing, do the business steps- administrative, collaborative, marketing, and communications necessary to make that legislative idea a reality!
If what you have been sitting on for this long is still significant-then let's empower you to lead the way, support you, and let's get a councilman in the seat who won't try to hush you-but who will promote the wants of the citizens through the democratic process... let's build a team/community that collectively can support your goal... Let's make a positive difference.
As you stated, everyone claims to know your position...but ultimately doesn't .... What is your position and what changes would you like to implement? I think you have a list of residents who are members of the civic organization REALNEO who may be a great foundation for embracing your considerations and also being respectably appreciated, supported, and promoted by at least, the future councilman I support (and he has experience in doing so!) .... That is why I say to vote for him too, if we vote for the one that will empower us, promote us, and support our community goals... then we are empowering ourselves! (I believe that Nelson Cintron jr has this capacity!)
I strongly believe that letting the truth be heard, finally addressed, and being receptive to change will empower all of us to overcome the history, the diversity, and the corruption... It won't be easy, it's a battle that will take a lot of dedication, and ultimately the goal is worthy of the fight... So, yes, I do appreciate finally meeting a group of citizens who are as fed up, tired, and proactive as I feel inside...
In your experience with City Council over ten years you evidently were unable to meet your goal... Let's put that on the table and find a way to make it reality pending it's feasibility with the community at large. Let's get support for your ideas, let's promote it, and let's make it reality as a TEAM.
You see, what Nelson Cintron Jr. has repetitively reminded me is that he appreciates, encourages, and expects civic involvement. As one citizen, somehow I take it that your voice was not heard historically. I cannot say why or know what the matter of intent was without you sharing it. Most importantly, it cannot be supported unless we bring it to the people for support...
If you have genuine, quantitative, objective ideas that make sense, then let's incorporate them into the big picture... There's a lot of reasons and rhymes why our individual ideas never become reality, predominantly because of a lack of collaborated support.
In this day and age, with this type of forum being offered and prayerfully with the new election-we'll be able to reignite block clubs and let community reps speak, work directly with the councilman, and work to overcome powerlessness.
I, personally, am waiting through this election to see where it goes... At least I know with Nelson Cintron Jr.- everyone will be treated fairly, that he will listen, take into consideration, and respond with answers that provide us with the tools to make our ideas a reality.
BJ, I do not personally know your area/issues at this time. After speaking with Nelson Cintron about the many areas and issues he's been hearing, (some new, some old, some different, etc) over these past months, particularly with the new area of the old Ward 15, I believe that he's taking into consideration the diverse different concerns that each group of residents have in our community.
I have discussed several issues with him directly and gotten responsible answers that offered the 1,2,3 solutions...and in some cases required me, as a citizen, to get off my behind, go out here on my own street, and do something about the problem instead of wasting time blaming others for why it wasn't changing. (and those ideas do work too!)
Yeppers... I used to expect the councilman to do this, do that, and react this way and that way, to be the solution-not offer the solution... But what I have learned in growing up a little-smiles- is that we are all responsible for our community in some way, big, small and in between... when I started taking action, working to empower my other neighbors, and inviting them to partake in the changes... their spirits, attitude, and their actions changed for the better of all...
By taking on a small ounce of leadership, promoting a small sense of community around my own home, and engaging my neighbors-good, bad, and indifferent-with face to face respect.... my neighborhood changed dramatically and so did my sense of purpose as a resident.
There's over 20,000 people in our ward... how can any one human being HONESTLY say that they would be able to listen to every SINGLE voice without neglecting doing their job as councilman? If any councilman spent all his time listening to complaints-he'd never have time for anything else... like reacting to those complaints, finding viable solutions, and implementing change-let alone seeking out new and empowering development ideas that would benefit our community.
It's time for us to work together as a team, setting aside our differences while promoting our consensus.
The bottom line is that we need to unite and promote leadership in our block clubs, our community organizations, and within our neighborhoods that provides a consensus of the problems and works through a communication chain that is formidable to making a difference. We need to find solutions within each of our various neighborhoods, then collectively as a community.
Heck, I actually planted flowers this year-even after some "less than desirables" stole my beautiful sprawling pink and green leafed plant last year that my friend gave me for Mother's Day and had been hanging out by the back door. After praying that maybe some kid took it forward to his own mom and letting go of the anger, frustration, and resentment that my life was violated... I came be back this year and I took a chance to plant more flowers and care when it felt like no one cared... And I felt good about that. It changed my own attitude.
I will say this about the community of Ward 14... there's a lot of disillusioned folks who feel they have been wronged. The combination of governmental factors, the police reduction & subsequent 'BLUE FLU' in 2002-2003, the underlying changes of the steel mills closing, the demographic changes and closets being opened to all diversity, and the current economy combined have simply drained most folks' spirits, attitudes, and pushed them into some of the toughest times in ages.
Our people are resilient, but they need to know that someone cares about them... They need leadership.... The lines at the food centers are getting longer-even I have had to use them. The philanthropic donors are getting burnt out... and the little people are hitting points of not wanting to help each other...there's a huge sense of: why should I care? What is in it for me to do something for nothing? I cannot leave my house because they will rob me blind, can't you see that I am living between two gutted vacant houses? A lot of folks are imprisoned in their own minds, homes, and dynamics with no hope in sight....
Nelson Cintron Jr. incites hope, promotes the possibilities, and inspires the neighborhoods to get involved through various avenues so that he can support their diverse needs. He inspires realistic actions towards change.
Everytime you try to get excited about something, someone is apathetic, negative, and falls through on the role they were going to play (of course if you have a bunch of money to offer them-then they will work-but they won't be enthusiastic, caring, or proactive-so you end up carrying them through a project like a drill sergeant barking orders to get things done or kissing their behinds to make the littlest job get done- like clearing a vacant lot.)
Some folks concerns have simple solutions. Some require a little to a lot of collaboration, teamwork, and community involvement. The major problem I see in Ward 14 is polarization of politics. When any of these candidates finds it in theirselves to be rude, discourteous, or unprofessional with the other candidate-regardless of their differences, then how can he lead a community as diverse as ours? I've seen those polarizing games. It won't be healthy for any of us.
I watched several of the candidates give me their speals by knocking the other candidates.... I am guilty of that and have been yelled at about it. It's a challenge that I embrace to promote healthy, qualified and factual points about the candidate I support, not the others. When a lady asked me why I believed in the candidate-I told her as I have told you herein.
From my dummy perspective, it's my understanding that there are lots of steps that are required to collaborate, initiate, and promote-let alone sell legislation. The more unified a team is in doing the leg work, the better off the community will be at accomplishing their mission. When a councilman can work with his community in a unified matter-then we can accomplish many goals... and the seeds of change will be planted... one person, one place, and one community at a time.....collectively.
Let's unite, let's work to promote your ideas, and let's build bridges that towards positive changes!