Because we want our leaders to think bigger and better, what Billy wrote bears repeating:
"While Greensboro’s 'city leaders' continue to see development and new construction as the only way to build a world class city, more grown up cities like San Diego, California are showing the way by providing residents with the ways and means to convert to alternative energy thereby reducing San Diego’s dependence of imported sources of energy and propelling California’s economy over that of North Carolina and the rest of the nation."
6 comments:
It does no good to build buildings that no one is inhabiting which will be the case if the city doesn't solve it's many problems. BB
Honestly, I'm not sure where to begin. Greensboro isn't San Diego (isn't going to be and shouldn't want to be) and although the impact of alternative energy is laudable, there's a huge outcry if "city leaders" try to fund PART and get people out of cars. AG tries to build a Greenway and there's nasty-blogging about the process (which was pretty darned open) and the cost. Add a park to downtown to promote downtown festivals and walking? Do you remember the pubic outcry about a small percentage of that cost which was almost totally privately funded (to the tune of $11M)?
I don't think it matters WHAT the city leaders do. If it costs more than 10-cents, people are going to complain about it.
In Durham, yard waste pickup isn't free. There's a $60 charge for the container and a charge for the green-friendly bags that must be used (or they don't pick up your yard waste). How do you think THAT would fly here?
City leaders built a well-attended ballpark, a law school and a few other things. City Leaders are working within significant financial constraints. Is the original poster working actively to promote alternative energy use citywide so it doesn't cost anything and no one complains? Is he building consensus with existing groups? Writing a grant proposal? Researching models and working with a team to see which one might work here?
Besides, this isn't about buildings; it's about an attitude. We need to grow up a little before we start making San Diego comparisons.
"City leaders built a..."
City leaders do a lot of things. Annexing citizens they don't have the means to support. Whoring out parking. Subsidies for companies who already know they are going to build here. Also, I'm sure there is someone in Durham pissed off about the trash bags. The attitude you talk about, I think, is the attitude that city leaders and public officials will continue to do "what is best" for the city even if the "citizens" don't think it's "right."
--brandonB
Roch,
So far, while I've no idea how many people read your post I can tell you that up until now how many commented here (3) and how many clicked through (1).
So obviously some of the ones who commented haven't a clue. As to which one is which I cannot say.
But Dude, thanks for trying for if I managed to win that one person's opinion then Greensboro has hope.
Sue, come on. Can we think a little harder -- focus more maybe? City leaders did not build a ballpark or a law school (as you claim) and the things you cite that people have objected to demonstrate precisely that it DOES matter what city "leaders" do. Tens of millions for a walking trail around downtown is derided not because of who is involved but because of WHAT IT IS -- a very bad use of public funds in the eyes of many.
Furthermore, as Bill subsequently points out, it looks like you just belched a pro-establishment knee-jerk response without even reading the article to which he linked.
It is fine to come to the defense of the local power structure, but when you do so in a way that doesn't make sense or ignores reality, it looks like either they are truly indefensible or you are happy to be a tool.
"It is fine to come to the defense of the local power structure, but when you do so in a way that doesn't make sense or ignores reality, it looks like either they are truly indefensible or you are happy to be a tool"
Great comment could not have said it better myself
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