Maybe I shouldn't so much have phrased this as questions but there are probably enough things on this board that lots of you might feel particularly strongly about--maybe transit or affordable housing or the arts--my answer is Yes on all three.
Sound bites and talking points always help...
Here's the draft list i'm working on ...
* Why he decided to be Councilman and how he got there?
* Being a Republican councilman in a non-partisan but still heavily Democrat town
* The political culture in City Hall--doesn't seem to encourage dissent and free thought within their own ranks.
*
Neighborhoods map and all that entails...
- The map is not done--it's a draft, but it does cover the entire city's planning area including areas like Anthem that will be annexed later
- 8 regions instead of 15 villages making it easier on City government and freeing staff a bit for cross-regional work...seeing as how most of the feedback I'm getting suggests Phoenix can hardly handle 15 villages.
- Phoenix 40 remnants/charter government in the Planning Commission
(at large PCers where we should have regional PCers)
- Denver, San Diego, many other large cities have ~100 planning districts and actual Neighborhoods
We have 15 villages that respect nothing.
When was the last time anybody outside of city government said they lived in Camelback East?
- Opening up the hearing officer process
Maybe the HO decisions should be held in the evenings along with the Neighborhood Board meetings?
- Special assessment districts for highly local improvements like the Downtown Core Enhanced Services District. The city as a whole is broke but particular neighborhoods might be proactive about solving ultra-local issues
- Identifying Phoenix's most famous neighborhoods--Arcadia, Biltmore
- Monument signs (Hillcrest over University Ave in San Diego, Los Angeles Downtown Center)
- Would people care about their neighborhoods if they could name them?
* The lack of an "invisible hand" guiding government today--our citizens are empowered but we still have no direction.
* Talk about the social responsibility of a functioning transit system (less DUIs, less drug abuse, indirect aid to the poor)
Doubling the bus system... 7 minute headways instead of 15, new 1/2 mile-street routes, 24 hour service.
* The frustration of Phoenix's many amenities all 45 minutes apart in traffic.
* Making Streets responsible for street trees instead of the overstretched Parks Department
OR
If the Parks and Preserves initiative passes, will there be money finally?
* Light rail on Camelback/44th St?
* NIMBYism
- Why couldn't a trade for HP zoning over the bank building allow Arcadia Place to be built?
- Why was CamelSquare shot down if they agreed to the concessions?
- Why was a month to allow a redesign unacceptable?