[RP TownTalk] A view from the Ravenswood nest

[Dwight Holmes]

Melissa -
There is a town email list called "Town Announce" that sends out
announcements of meetings, agendas, and (thanks to a recent, new town
ordinance) copies of resolutions and ordinances.  You can sign up for
it here:
http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/TownCrier.cfm

Personally, I think it would be better to send that info out via
TownTalk. I don't know how many folks are subscribed to TownAnnounce
(or to TownTalk for that matter) but I'm guessing there are quite a
few people who aren't even aware of it.

I don't think that the amount of traffic on TownTalk is such that the
addition of one or two emails a week to announce town events would be
burdensome to our readership.  One issue might be that all of the Town
Announce info is sent out as PDF attachments.  I don't know if that's
a requirement - there doesn't seem to be any reason I can see that the
same info couldn't be sent as simple text in a post to TownTalk.

I agree with you & Don that it's too bad there isn't more of a roll up
your sleeves democratic process that takes place with all of these
many important decisions. I don't think I point a finger at our
council or mayor for that though.   I am just so grateful that these
folks have given of their time to run. It's dismaying that we have 7
seats up for election and every one of them is unopposed.  And as
Brian said, we who squeak should bring with us some WD40.  (Of course
some of us squeakers could use a little WD40 ourselves ;-) )  I'm sure
all of our representatives would appreciate any and all input and
participation. I've certainly always felt welcome when I've attended
town meetings and have always been given an opportunity to speak.

It may be that in this day and age, and in particular in this present
day economy, that our particular small town/inner ring suburb with its
particular demographic makeup, just doesn't quite have critical mass
for heavy duty democratic decision making.

Just my thoughts...

Dwight

On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 10:20 AM, Melissa Avery <m.avery at rocketmail.com> wrote:
> Sarah,
> thank you for the information. I think the point that Don was trying to make
> was, that it is the job of an elected council member to make decisions
> through a consensus of their ward members. When you can only get information
> about what is happening  in your ward or the town AFTER the council has met
> and discussed the issues and made decisions , that is not following the
> democratic process. Why should you have to go to a council meeting to find
> out what is happening in your ward? How can your opinion be heard when you
> do not know what is going to be discussed? Some issues need research, a
> person can't be expected to offer inteligent rebuttle on the spur of the
> moment with out the oppertunity to do research.   Don was trying to describe
> a democratic process. Also we know that ward 2  has had ward meetings, the
> only ward as far as we know.
> This town is too small to not make an effort to reach out to all of it's
> citizens. Especially in this election where essentially everyone in the town
> government is being appointed.