"Street-Smarts" - An Introduction to Citizen Action in Macon, GA.
by Dan Fischer
Citizens affected by government action, be it local, state or federal, usually feel overwhelmed. Unfortunately, this leaves them resigned and dispirited - a very self-defeating reaction! Citizens around the county, using democratic processes, can and do make a significant difference; CAUTION Macon has and continues to do so in Macon, Georgia.
Individuals get riled when adversely affected by a government action. The Macon/Bibb County Road "Improvement" Program (RIP) has managed to so threaten entire neighborhoods across the county! Individuals commonly make several assumptions when they first get involved - all, in the case of the RIP, false and very dangerous:
These statements are FALSE:
1. The issue is too technical for the layman.
2. The professionals know what they are doing.
3. There is a well-thought-out plan guiding the expenditure of public funds.
4. Public business will be conducted and public policy decisions made in public forums with broad public participation.
5. Elected and appointed public officials are committed to protecting my interests and those of the community.
6. Public input is welcomed and will be seriously considered.
7. Elected and appointed public officials can be trusted to provide full and truthful answers.
8. The spirit of State and Federal regulations regarding road projects and environmental quality will be adhered to.
1. The issue is too technical - FALSE: There are ample resources that allow citizens to become well-versed in transportation policy, new neighborhood-friendly approaches to road design, and successful projects in other cities (Macon is, unfortunately, several decades behind most cities!). A good starting place: the CAUTION Macon web site at www.CAUTIONMacon.org. Much of planning and road design is common sense; in this area, the average citizen is often better endowed than a myopic professional. Never underestimate the value of your own intuition!
Also, remember that it is the responsibility of our hired professionals to inform and educate the public: no question is too simple, no question is "dumb." You may, in fact, be the first to identify a critical issue! If you’re confused, the individual sitting next to, in front of, or behind you is equally confused - and hoping someone else will ask the question he or she is too embarrassed to ask! Remember: you, the citizen, have a right to know, and are not expected to understand all of the issues, let alone know the answers! Never be embarrassed to ask! If officials cannot or will not answer your question, assume that something is amiss.
2. The professionals know what they are doing- FALSE:
3. There is a well-thought-out plan guiding the expenditure of public funds- FALSE:
In many cities, these would be safe assumptions. In fact, we should expect and demand both from our elected and appointed officials. The Road Improvement Program’s "plan" is to get and spend and much federal and state funds as possible, regardless of need, or the damage to our neighborhoods, historic districts, quality of life, or even public safety. The official 2015 Transportation Plan is a list of projects, with no attempt to determine if the underlying road system itself is logical or complete. No human or environmental values are recognized.
4. Public business will be conducted and public policy decisions made in public forums with broad public participation- FALSE, and
5. Elected and appointed public officials are committed to protecting my interests and those of the community- FALSE:
A cadre of prominent Macon businessmen claim that they "engineered" the Road Improvement Program, and aggressively promoted passage of the sales tax with $100,000 of their own money. While these individuals sincerely believe their actions benefit the community, it would be more democratic if all sectors of the community had an opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of various aspect of the program at the outset, especially those that threaten to devastate their neighborhoods and destroy the character and quality of life of Macon. A little "sunshine" can go a long way in furthering public confidence in its public officials.
The actions of the Executive Committee of the Road Improvement Program belie any understanding of or concern for the impacts of improperly planned roads on individuals and neighborhoods. The "public purpose" is narrowly defined as promoting development opportunities - and "bringing home the Pork."
6. Public input is welcomed and will be seriously considered- FALSE, and
7. Elected and appointed public officials can be trusted to provide full and truthful answers- FALSE:
One of first and continuing demands of CAUTION Macon has been that Road Improvement Program meetings should be scheduled at times when working citizens can conveniently attend them. This has not happened. The program has, however, modified the format of its neighborhood public hearings. The Georgia Department of Transportation, unfortunately, continues to use a format designed to preclude discussion (there is suspicion that the more controversial projects are being purposefully shifted to DOT control to stifle opposition).
Can citizen’s expect honest answers from officials? County Engineer Bob Fountain’s misstatements could fill a book! One of his more famous is that "wider roads don’t encourage increased speeds." Try respecting the 25MPH speed limit on Edna Place, Bob!
8. The spirit of State and Federal regulations regarding road projects and environmental quality will be adhered to- FALSE:
Federal laws and regulations, as well as AASHTO (the bible of modern street design) envision roads that gracefully serve rather than dominate a community. The importance of thoughtful design processes, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, aesthetic consistency, mitigation of environmental impacts, and the quality of life are stressed. The Road Improvement Program arguably violates the letter of the law; it never rises to the level of embracing its spirit.
So, what can I, as a concern citizen, do?
1. Act in concert with others who share your concerns. There is power in numbers, particularly in the political arena.
2. Become informed. Emotional arguments rarely win the day; well-thought out alternatives and reasoned critique of proposed plans do. A little common sense goes a long way!
3. Don’t give up! Public officials in Macon/Bibb County feel that history is on their side: concerned citizens will angrily state their consternation in a short frenzy of activity, then give up in frustration. Their strategy is to wear public resistance down, rather than acquiesce to public opinion or address legitimate public concerns. Don’t let that strategy win!
4. Be actively involved: write letters, speak to elected officials, go to meetings.
5. Hold public officials - elected and hired, to a high standard of accountability. Let them know when you’re unhappy, vote them out of office if they ignore the public interest or violate the public trust.
6. Create a door-to-door petition. This serves several uses: 1- It helps to educated your neighbors, 2- It creates a list of possible volunteers (3) It is the start of a "call list" and a "mail list", (4) Then send it to elected officials as an additional letter to them. (This is not a substitute for numerous, individual letters.)
Example: We the undersigned neighbors of {your neighborhood} are concerned about the proposed plans to {alter} the street through our neighborhood.
[ We request a public meeting where all our concerns will be written into a public document which will be later distributed freely - at no charge to the citizens - posted on the internet in plain text. We request that any and all proposed answers to our concerns be posted in the same place. ]
Thank-you, Signed: - name - - address - - phone - - work phone - -
Remember: democratic processes work only when citizens are actively involved! They fail when citizens are apathetic, passive, or cynical. Do your part: be informed, be involved!!!