I love this, Darrin. Thinking locally really helps people to concentrate on the, "But what can I actually DO?" questions that big issues seem to generate.
One theory I have about why many candidates with great ideas struggle to get attention is that issues like these get lost in other priorities, like jobs and affordability. If progressive or urban-planning candidates want to attract notice, it could be helpful for them to help people understand how their ideas relate to day-to-day concerns, AND, how their ideas are not mutually exclusive from other issues that people worry about.
People want it all. They want better focus on density, AND they want to keep the option to have a house with a yard. They want better transit, AND they want the option to drive a car if they choose to or need to. I tend to see candidates focus on one or the other. I of course understand that we can't always have it all. But I also feel that progressive candidates might be more successful if they could convince people that they could have *some* of it all. Does that make sense? Like in Bogota, they didn't shut down all of the streets, and they didn't shut down some streets every day.
It's an uphill climb (literally, if you're going to the Hart) to convince people to budge on things they hold dear, but if you can convince people that what's good for downtown is also good for the Hart, there may be better success.
Kathy, have YOU ever considered a run for it? That comment is pretty much the exact way I think you'd have to approach an urbanist campaign in PG.
You'd really have to make sure people understand they aren't losing something and that urbanist values DO affect things like jobs and affordability. You know what kind of housing is the most affordable? Dense housing. You know how to avoid a $250/month car payment, $100/month insurance, $80/month in gas? Having better transit so you don't NEED a car. Want to actually try to lower the property tax rate in PG? Stop goddamn sprawling this city in every direction.
I think there is a way to message it and there are completely untapped communities that will show up to that messaging. It's just a tricky needle to thread.
Oh, I have lots of ideas. And I have full respect for people who put their names out there and actually do the work. I lack the patience for meetings and committees and all the things that are required to run a city. Plus I'm in bed by 8:00. :) :) Who can stay up that late?? :)
You're right about messaging. The other thing you'd have to do is convince your co-council members that these things are worth working towards. I sometimes think that is even more in need of messaging finesse than talking to voters. Convincing council that we need to put the transit ahead of ridership (build it and they will come) or convincing them that a walkable city is worth the investment in infrastructure (sidewalks and bike paths) -- well, it took 10 years of cajoling to get a sidewalk on a busy road up in the Hart. Sigh.
The sprawl is real. I think you are right on many points here Darren, particularly around the status quo at our local government and a lack of progressive candidates willing to run. Let’s bring Brent Toderian to PG for a visioning session for our downtown.
I understand the frustration with the public's lack of enthusiasm for voting in municipal elections, but the lesson to extract from that shouldn't be that 75% of the city residents have no "faith in local politics to invoke meaningful change." The point is that you don't need 100% support from PG residents to help actually achieve meaningful change that improves the lives of people even if they couldn't be bothered to vote, AND that is why you absolutely should run for municipal council. Instead of despairing about the poor voter turnout, think about how much impact a relatively small number of inspired progressives could have if they get out and support a few good candidates! (end sermon)
I hear you - I think that's a really optimistic way to see the situation. I think, at least for now, I am focused on trying to guide the public discourse toward a solution that doesn't have a "now vote for me!" sticker on it.
For now, I'll have my eye out for candidates this little community might be able to support and I'm happy to grab a coffee with anyone to talk about urbanist values and how to communicate them to the lay PG citizen.
I love this, Darrin. Thinking locally really helps people to concentrate on the, "But what can I actually DO?" questions that big issues seem to generate.
One theory I have about why many candidates with great ideas struggle to get attention is that issues like these get lost in other priorities, like jobs and affordability. If progressive or urban-planning candidates want to attract notice, it could be helpful for them to help people understand how their ideas relate to day-to-day concerns, AND, how their ideas are not mutually exclusive from other issues that people worry about.
People want it all. They want better focus on density, AND they want to keep the option to have a house with a yard. They want better transit, AND they want the option to drive a car if they choose to or need to. I tend to see candidates focus on one or the other. I of course understand that we can't always have it all. But I also feel that progressive candidates might be more successful if they could convince people that they could have *some* of it all. Does that make sense? Like in Bogota, they didn't shut down all of the streets, and they didn't shut down some streets every day.
It's an uphill climb (literally, if you're going to the Hart) to convince people to budge on things they hold dear, but if you can convince people that what's good for downtown is also good for the Hart, there may be better success.
Kathy, have YOU ever considered a run for it? That comment is pretty much the exact way I think you'd have to approach an urbanist campaign in PG.
You'd really have to make sure people understand they aren't losing something and that urbanist values DO affect things like jobs and affordability. You know what kind of housing is the most affordable? Dense housing. You know how to avoid a $250/month car payment, $100/month insurance, $80/month in gas? Having better transit so you don't NEED a car. Want to actually try to lower the property tax rate in PG? Stop goddamn sprawling this city in every direction.
I think there is a way to message it and there are completely untapped communities that will show up to that messaging. It's just a tricky needle to thread.
Oh, I have lots of ideas. And I have full respect for people who put their names out there and actually do the work. I lack the patience for meetings and committees and all the things that are required to run a city. Plus I'm in bed by 8:00. :) :) Who can stay up that late?? :)
You're right about messaging. The other thing you'd have to do is convince your co-council members that these things are worth working towards. I sometimes think that is even more in need of messaging finesse than talking to voters. Convincing council that we need to put the transit ahead of ridership (build it and they will come) or convincing them that a walkable city is worth the investment in infrastructure (sidewalks and bike paths) -- well, it took 10 years of cajoling to get a sidewalk on a busy road up in the Hart. Sigh.
The sprawl is real. I think you are right on many points here Darren, particularly around the status quo at our local government and a lack of progressive candidates willing to run. Let’s bring Brent Toderian to PG for a visioning session for our downtown.
I would LOVE that.
!remind me 10 years
good luck tho
You have summed it up well.
Another great essay….. thanks for keeping issues such as this front and centre, yes run for council!!
I understand the frustration with the public's lack of enthusiasm for voting in municipal elections, but the lesson to extract from that shouldn't be that 75% of the city residents have no "faith in local politics to invoke meaningful change." The point is that you don't need 100% support from PG residents to help actually achieve meaningful change that improves the lives of people even if they couldn't be bothered to vote, AND that is why you absolutely should run for municipal council. Instead of despairing about the poor voter turnout, think about how much impact a relatively small number of inspired progressives could have if they get out and support a few good candidates! (end sermon)
I hear you - I think that's a really optimistic way to see the situation. I think, at least for now, I am focused on trying to guide the public discourse toward a solution that doesn't have a "now vote for me!" sticker on it.
For now, I'll have my eye out for candidates this little community might be able to support and I'm happy to grab a coffee with anyone to talk about urbanist values and how to communicate them to the lay PG citizen.