Posted Jun 18, 2008 at 5:42 PM
Ahhh. I see. You're operating under the misguided impression that the Christiansburg Town Council would like to encourage citizen participation. Wherever did you get that idea? Do you believe that our town council members intend to operate according to the Virginia Constitution, which states, "all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people"? Or according to the Declaration of Independence, which states, "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"? Wishing will not make it so. The ugly truth is that our town council, our county board of supervisors and every other municipal governing body in the county fervently wish that we, the people, would stay home, shut up, and continue in our failure to hold them accountable. Our inherent governing authority is meaningless if we don't exercise it.
Posted Jun 18, 2008 at 5:59 PM
why are the planning commission and the town council doing joint public hearings? Wouldn't it be just as easy to have the commission meet twice monthly like the council and do their public hearing separate? Maybe set it up so that public hearing happen two weeks before the council votes? It is so disorganized the way it is now. For citizens, that is. I'm sure council members find it a much easier way to have an hour or two to discuss things privately while they are all together and the commission is meeting. It doesn't work well for citizens and it does not look good politically or legally.
Please convey these feelings to Town Council members and the Mayor! Some contact info is available here (search on Council Member's name). Or, use the "contact the author" button in the navigation if you need us to send you contact information. The T's will compile a list and publish it soon.
Posted Jun 18, 2008 at 8:24 PM
I couldnt agree anymore with you. Our town meeting is somewhat overwhelming to the average resident who may wander in just to see and get a feel at government on a local level. Once the resident are there they have no idea what is happening or what goes on or what they can or cannot do. We do need to be more "resident friendly" to encourage turnout and participation. I have friends who have lived here fifty years and have never been to a meeting because they dont know what to do or how to do it. I'm trying to create a buddy system and bring a friend to future meetings. We cant drop the ball on this increase in resident turnout and participation. Town council persons and the town manager should be begging people to come and help them make decisions that matter most in this town and not what they think is most important to them based on their personal experiences. Afterall, its all about what WE, the people, want, not what they want. WE should remind them of that...they are representing US, not themselves.
Attending meetings, calling council members and even sending email. Even still, do not expect a welcome mat to be placed for "citizen engagement."
Posted Jun 20, 2008 at 10:11 PM
It appears to me that a lot of posts and comments seem to want the Town to convert to a "mob rule" democracy. It also seems like a lot of folks that post on here in the comments section thinks that when they are complaining about what "WE" want, they don't realize that they are not speaking for the entirety of the citizens of C'burg. They want to use some hyperbole to make it sound like everyone in town is not happy. Some folks need to take a reality pill.
Many posts and comments relate to citizen engagement, encouraging voters to participate (attending meetings, contacting council members or town administrators, gaining an understanding of issues, developing an informed opinion). Your suggestion this equals "mob rule" and is simply complaining, rather than an aspect of democracy, is interesting in that both are contemptous terms. Saying "some folks need to take a reality pill" is not an exaggeration.