LETTER TO THE EDITOR / DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
In small New England towns in the late 18th century, the first Americans created an experimental form of direct participative democracy. Local residents gathered in village centers to discuss issues, question their elected mayor and decide what actions to take. Something similar took place in KW on Saturday.
The local ACLU chapter, under the direction of Mary Sheerin, invited newly elected Mayor Teri Johnston to discuss her positions and plans, especially those that affect the civil liberties and and human rights of KW citizens. Mayor Teri was open, direct and knowledgeable in response to the questions from the crowd of roughly 50 people. It was clear that, based on the early results, our mayor and commissioners are effective producing both concrete results and communicating with the community – even with tough questions.
The Mayor described her philosophy on immigration and civil liberties, citing former police Chief Donie Lee’s position that working for the federal immigration force (ICE) wasn’t a local function nor either his job or the wishes of his tax payers. As a business owner, Teri understands the needs of many of our businesses for good workers eager to do jobs Americans won’t do. She also touched on the subjects of sanctuary cities, criminal justice, voting rights (Amendment 4) as well as the structural realities of KW governance, where the mayor and commissioners only have 3 employee reports (City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk) while all others report to the City Manager.
The goal, according to the mayor, is to identify the basic problems and address them promptly and effectively. Mayor Teri demonstrated a willingness to listen to others and to apply best practices that proved successful elsewhere. Specifically, she announced a new experimental pedestrian mall (with no cars) covering several blocks on Duval street to start in 30 to 60 days.
One of the most important points to emerge from this public dialogue was the importance of ENGAGED CITIZENRY. Just like our first Americans, much of the momentum, constructive solutions and results come from active and involved residents of Key West.
Roger C. Kostmayer
KW
Jan. 12, 2019
[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]
Where are they going to build all the new Synagogues in the Keys?
Ah the good ole days post the American Revolution…everyone listened to each other civilly and sang kumbaya (but only after the cleansing…sic)…about 100,000 departed!
NPR 2015: What Happened To British Loyalists After The Revolutionary War?
And so, when the British pulled out in city after city in the United States, up to tens of thousands of loyalists sometimes went with the retreating army to Britain and other parts of the British Empire. … About half of the loyalists who left the United States ended up going north to Canada, settling in the province of Nova Scotia and also becoming pioneering settlers in the province of New Brunswick.
“In small New England towns in the late 18th century, the first Americans created an experimental form of direct participative democracy.”
“One of the most important points to emerge from this public dialogue was the importance of ENGAGED CITIZENRY. Just like our first Americans,…”
Yep, only after the US population was cleansed of Tories…after the Revolutionary War!
Gotta know your history context when you use examples of history.
John and Thelma have posted two very odd comments. I’m not sure Thelma’s is legit.
Have you ever seen a factory that has been taken over by workers that succeeded on a long term basis? I haven’t. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words and an engaged citizenry is a rare commodity, now as throughout history.
Even the French revolution or the current ‘Yellow Jackets’ rebellion’ are a by-product of ‘community organizers’ who push and prod the crowd to wake up and go to the streets.
Paul is correct in that any organization that loses its head cannot function as a single entity. It has to have one leader who has the mental capacity to run things without having to sit on an assembly line tightening nuts!