By Lawrence Lehr and Hank Topper for Santa Rosa Together
After our recent election we find ourselves as divided as ever. In the face of so many challenges, can partisan efforts solve our problems? Doesn’t our experience indicate that we need an alternative to the rancor in our national political life?
Santa Rosa Together, a nonpartisan volunteer group, has been looking at local alternatives. We understand that we can only move forward by working together. If we want to overcome our divisions and unite our city, we will need to create a better politics.
Our experience is that despite our differences, we have more in common than not.
We are volunteers from all political persuasions and have been working together for eight years to improve our city. Whether right or left, we have gotten to know and respect each other, and we have learned how to work together.
Democratic citizens aren’t born, they’re developed through practicing democracy. Our politics should give us that practice by making participation accessible to everyone, including meeting with neighbors so we can get to know each other and take responsibility for our neighborhoods.
Let’s create strong neighborhood organizations in every part of our city, partnerships where we move beyond partisan allegiances, meet face to face and find common ground. Then, when our city needs to address a challenge, like creating the affordable housing we desperately need, let’s start the planning process in our neighborhoods.
Let’s give neighborhoods, the information and expertise to discuss issues and make informed decisions. Then let’s create the opportunity for neighborhoods to come together in citywide meetings to create the plan we need to address the challenge and take this plan to the City Council for approval and implementation.
Let’s make sure that every neighborhood has a role in implementation so that we can all contribute to the work. Neither government nor nongovernmental organizations can solve our problems by themselves. Our local governments would function much more effectively if they organized neighborhoods to guide and assist them.
Let’s transform city government from a cadre of experts doing things for us into an organization helping us get organized, and partnering with us to do the work of the city.
This isn’t rocket science, but it won’t be easy. Yet it could contribute greatly to overcoming our divisions.
We must get more engaged with each other and develop confidence in our ideas and ourselves. Wouldn’t this defuse the power of partisanship and help us find common values that would allow us to build a great city? Neighbors formulating common goals while learning from others is the way to build trust and accomplish great things.
Santa Rosa Together is working on opportunities to rebuild our politics.
The pending general plan update can begin the process of bringing residents together and strengthening our neighborhoods. We will start a citywide conversation to develop city charter amendments to define a new partnership between neighborhoods and government. And we will start a neighborhood building and youth engagement program to give residents opportunities to learn from each other and strengthen neighborhood organizations and civic institutions.
We believe that this is some of the most important work any of us can do right now. Let’s create a new model that revitalizes democracy for ourselves and our children and create a city that better reflects our deepest values. Contact us at santarosatogether.org and learn how you can help.
Hank Topper and Lawrence Lehr are members of Santa Rosa Together.
Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve
tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same
outcome.
Take a look at my webpage … wrongful foreclosure attorney near me
Hi there it’s me, I am also visiting this site on a
regular basis, this web page is genuinely pleasant and the viewers are really sharing nice thoughts.
Türkiye’nin en güncel nöbetçi eczane listesine sitemiz üzerinden anında ulaşabilirsiniz…
Good web site you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find high-quality writing like
yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate people like you!
Take care!!
Who in the world wants to be friends with my girlfriend?
For a more complete list, including less recent studies, please click on green tea cialis online pharmacy 2009 Jul 21; 48 28 6585 97
Spending most of his time watching new movies on the theater or classics on TCM,
a few of Michael’s favourite movies embody Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!
Royal Theatre Carré was constructed as a everlasting
circus theatre in 1887 and is presently mainly used for musicals, cabaret performances, and pop concerts.
Wow, superb blog structure! How long have you been blogging for?
you made running a blog look easy. The total glance of your site is excellent, as smartly
as the content material!
Simply wish to say your article is as astounding.
The clarity on your submit is simply spectacular and i can think you’re knowledgeable
in this subject. Fine together with your permission allow me to grab
your feed to stay updated with drawing close
post. Thanks one million and please continue the enjoyable work.
Just desire to say your article is as surprising.
The clearness to your submit is simply excellent and i could assume you’re knowledgeable in this subject.
Fine together with your permission allow me to seize your feed to
keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please continue the rewarding
work.
This blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something which helped me.
Many thanks!
There are not any featured evaluations for Thirteen Lives as a result of the film has not released but .
Depending on yourself to make the decisions can really be upsetting and frustrating. It can take many people a long time to build a strong moral system. It doesnt really just happen if you know what I mean.
Hello There. I found your blog the use of msn. That is
an extremely neatly written article. I will make sure to bookmark it
and return to learn more of your helpful information. Thanks for the
post. I’ll certainly comeback.
Hello there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading
your blog posts. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that
go over the same topics? Many thanks!
Hey – nice blog, just looking around some blogs, appears a pretty great platform you might be making use of. Im presently utilizing WordPress for several of my sites but looking to change one of them around to a platform comparable to yours like a trial run. Something in specific youd suggest about it?
Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no backup.
Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?
Let me show my appreciation through good info as well.
follow for satisfaction
Good Morning everyone I want to share my talent
on money making. 오피사이트 Please check this out and you
will be rich just like me!
If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.
Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok.
I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward
to new posts.
If you are like a lot of people you can simply overlook this. The real truth comes with being honest with yourself and your goals. This will lead to a sad and unfulfilling life.
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much.
I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.
cheap fioricet no prescription
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I think that you ought to
publish more about this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but typically people do not
speak about such topics. To the next! Cheers!!
Hey very nice blog!!
thank you very nice blog post
It is easy to see when reading the rest of your blog post comments lots of people have lots of different and strong debates about this subject. The truth is it is refreshing to meet different opinionated writers Oh yes I bookmarked this post to my FB favorites.
When I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new
comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment
is added I receive 4 emails with the exact same comment.
Perhaps there is an easy method you are able to remove me from that service?
Appreciate it!
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker
who has been doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me dinner
simply because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this….
Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this issue here on your internet site.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in composing this article. I am hoping the same high-grade work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to begin my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Lynx DNA Laboratory is the leading DNA testing center based
in Lagos, Nigeria. Through a growing network of globally recognized partnerships that we have
built over the years, we are accredited by the United States-based GENETICA DNA Laboratories
and DNA Diagnostic Center (DDC) to deliver fast, accurate and affordable DNA testing through our offices in major cities across the country.
thanks for this nice tips
A relieving agency specialising in early childhhood education.
My blog poist … 고소득알바
Thank you very much.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.
There is so a lot of thewmes to chose from so im seeking for some tips.
Take a look at my homepage … 텐카페알바
I admire the useful information and facts you provide in your content. I will bookmark your weblog and also have my kids examine up right here normally. I am very certain theyll learn a lot of new stuff here than anyone else!
I frequently read your blog admin try to discover it quite fascinating. Thought it was about time i show you , Sustain the truly fantastic work