Whoo Knew - by Peg Pinard

 

  2014 Columns

 

 

December, 2014      Creating a Permanent UPROAR

Imagine being in the position of planning for something and being able to have the benefit of learning from other's mistakes. Wouldn't this be a great opportunity to "do it right"? Now, imagine elected officials deciding, instead, to just make the same mistakes all over again. Well, you don't have to imagine, for this is exactly what is happening with San Luis Obispo's Regional Airport as the SLO City Council wants to override the safety zones of the county's Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC).

 

October, 2014         Things Are Not Always What They Seem . . .

 

As another election cycle approaches, we begin to hear the rumbling of frustrations about 'government'—sometimes followed by "What's the use? Nothing's going to change." And, while the national scene can be daunting, the local elections are the areas where an informed public can make a huge difference. At the local level we still have the ability to influence the kind of government we want.

 

September, 2014     On Maniupulation...

 

As the former Mayor of San Luis Obispo, and a County Supervisor for eight years, I am proud of the many good things government has done on behalf of the residents it represents, but I have also witnessed a growing problem that is rarely talked about. That problem is with local governments "crossing the line" and reaching beyond their defined role. It often seems that this "line is crossed" with the best of rationalizations.

 

August, 2014           Disempowering Citizens

 

Most Americans believe that their government should be primarily based on the will of its citizenry. But something very interesting has gradually happened. In many American cities, and counties, there has been a very quiet shift away from "citizen based government" towards a concept of "stakeholder based government." As one expert explained it, the "stakeholder groups" in any particular city may include the following: