I understand the Freeholders are tentatively set on having 5 County Commissioners, rather than three - as well as keeping our various elected (and not beholden to current banana republic designs) officeholders in place (Auditor, Treasurer, Sheriff, etc). This is a good sign, in that our Freeholders believe that too much power is concentrated in the hands of the myopic few. I also understand that Freeholders are possibly leaning towards a County Executive, or some form of "strong-mayor" government - also a good thing.
I am encouraged by what's coming out of their meetings. I do, however, have some considerations that I hope the Freeholders take into account (I realize I'm one voice among the many masses, different and indifferent, clamoring for attention to these folks):
- Number of Commissioners: 5 is probably OK. Snohomish (800K pop) has five.
I am a bit concerned about having Commishes by district (like how we have now) for a couple reasons - one, voting by district tends to concentrate power in the hands of certain districts, and/or certain parties, over others, given the differences between urban and rural voters (rural voters are more conservative, older, and tend to vote more, than urban ones - giving us our current situation where the "outer two" districts - non-Vancouver - voters are weighted towards needs of, well, rural conservative voters, even though both districts have an equal share of urban/suburban voters). I really don't like the idea of gerrymandering by district - i.e., forcing all progressive votes into one district, ensuring a solid conservative district, etc. Gerrymandering (as we see in the current US Congress) enables incumbents to stay in office for much longer than they otherwise would be able to, as well as locking in seats towards certain "types" of candidates.
I'd be very curious to see what a County Council would be like with 5 "at-large" seats - where one runs, say, in one's district for the primary (and candidates have to reside in their district - a problem that comes up with "at-large" seats is that candidates tend to "clump" in certain areas over others - leaving large parts of jurisdictions without adequate representation (see Seattle City Council). Then, during the general, the top-two vote-getters in the primary from each district have to battle for votes from the WHOLE COUNTY - thus ensuring all voters are more equitably represented, and giving us dynamic candidates who have to seek the ever-shifting center in order to obtain office.
Which brings me to my next concern:
-NON PARTISAN COMMISSIONERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, PLEASE!!!! I am tired of the rancor between political parties in this County (and I know you are too). Divisive party politics have worked to our detriment in Clark County - just see the 2012 elections, where Boldt (a great candidate) would have been re-elected had the Dems not continued to run Brittain against him. Instead, we got Madore - with 34% of the vote. Seattle's Council is non-partisan. Portland's Council is too.
-ELECT A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, or "executive" (as it were) - but ALSO divide areas of governmental responsibility among Commissioners. What this does is ensures "strong-mayor" government (accountable to voters directly, rather than county workers accountable only to their bosses) under ONE person, who can make day-to-day decisions without having to run to a group of differently-minded folks for the say-so. However, having Commishes responsible for specific areas of government also allows for checks and balances - rather than allowing power to corrupt in one person or office.
I'd prefer to avoid the silly "Bureau" nonsense that Portland has - what this does is ensures a weak executive and allows for "fiefdoms" in which power for a specific government function is concentrated in the hands of one Commissioner - from whom there's no appeal. Again, having both an elected exec (non-partisan) and an elected commish overseeing various county department areas provides CHECKS AND BALANCES.
-DEVOLVE URBAN AND SUBURBAN GOVT RESPONSIBILITIES ONTO THE VARIOUS UNINCOPORATED AREAS, and quit funding city-level government functions. The County CANNOT afford to provide "one-stop shopping" of governmental functions (particularly law enforcement, and parks, as well as zoning/planning) for all the various urban/suburban areas in this County that remain unincorporated. I'm sorry, Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, and Orchards/Brush Prairie each have a big enough tax base, spread evenly among residential/commercial/industrial, to cover their own needs individually. Devolving government onto newly incorporated cities relieves pressure of a currently stretched budget that right now spends some 3/4 of our dollars on law enforcement alone. I'm not saying cut these areas loose without a paddle - devolve some responsbilities right away, phase in others - just as King County did 15 years ago when it forced its suburbs to become cities (Burien, Sea-Tac, Federal Way, Sammammish, Shoreline). Law enforcement, for instance, could be a snap for these new cities - simply transfer chain of command from County Sheriff to new city governments. Fire Districts (currently we have a plethora of these, all of which folks vote on Commishes for each, all of which depend in part on County money) could easily be folded into these new cities - saving even more money.
The good thing about being incorporated (before all you Hazel Dell folks start screaming bloody murder) is that you get to CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINY. 'Nuff said.
-TAKE BACK THE COUNTY JAIL. I'm not real sure why the County continues to pay a consortium of 5 Superior Court judges what I'm assuming is 1.5x cost to run our jail and probation departments, when running it ourselves would be much cheaper. I hear we spend more to run our "privately-operated" jail, 50% more per inmate, than other counties in the state. I'm not sure what all this money's getting us - overcrowding, suicides, prison labor to pick up trash?
-GET RID OF SERVICES YOU CANNOT AFFORD. This goes with devolution (above). If you can't afford your share of a "metropolitan parks department" (City-County), devolve Parks in Vancouver to the City of Vancouver. Devolve other parks to newly formed city councils (or community councils, if incorporation isn't a go). Devolve economic planning for Clark County cities back to the cities. Get OUT of the Public Health business - yes, I love our stellar health department, but other counties do quite well in providing HIV services (for instance) through university-sponsored or private-sponsored non-profits.
-PUT ACHIEVABLE MEANS OF REFERENDUM, INITIATIVE, PETITION, and RECALL in place in a new County Charter. Part of our current trouble is so many of us feel powerless to stop things - the Bridge, the M&M coalition, whatever - because avenues of redress are difficult and costly. An OMSBUDSMAN's OFFICE (something King County has) would be ideal here.
So there ya go, Freeholders. My two cents to you.
Semi-regular musings, rants, and occasional raves, as well as constructive critique, about politico-economic goings-on and needs in Vancouver, USA and surrounding area. O Vancouvria! seeks to point out problems that need redress, bear witness to issues otherwise ignored, and start dialogue that brings the ear of public needs and wants back to movers & shakers in our community.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Downtown's Exciting New Nightlife
I'm pleased lately to see what appears to be a major surge in interesting nightlife, dinner, and drinks hotspots in downtown Vancouver - dare I say it, a veritable "plethora" of hip places to see and be seen.
While I'm the last person to ask as to what's new and exciting in going out on the town anywhere (and believe you me, I didn't even know Niche, that lovely little wine bar next to Kiggins, has been around for four years) I'm thrilled to see places such as Dirty Hands Brewing Co. (Evergreen & Broadway), as well as actual tequila and whiskey bars elsewhere downtown - in short, places that wouldn't look out of place on Hawthorne, or in (gasp!) The Pearl.
This is exciting. Part of being a vibrant and thriving city is having an active nightlife - a downtown that closes at 5 PM is a dead center of an even deader town. Vancouver, for some reason, seems to have reached a "critical mass" of resident consumers who prefer to go out on the town north of the river, near their homes - putting their dollars where their mouths are. Having these types of businesses flourish and multiply means that folks here at home will continue to patronize downtown - attracting others (their friends, word of mouth) through the quality of indie hotspots they frequent.
I'm not saying we should think twice about "Vantucky" turning into The Pearl - we are FAR from such high holy gentrified terrain. However, people out and about at night 7 days a week, on the streets, lowers crime, fattens wallets of businesses who decided to take a chance on the Couv, provides jobs, encourages others to move here when they see - well, when they see "how much fun" we're all having.
And indeed, here in the "Wet n Wild City", we always know how to party.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Potemkin Village Building - The Commishes Ride Again
Boy, this article doesn't really say a whole lot, other than that Commissioners are completely open to picking whatever growth number they choose, and planning accordingly. Which means what, they pick it out of a hat that Co Community Planning provides?
Why not just take the US Census number for Clark County 2020 - 600K - and run with that? Its not like picking a bigger number would in any way detract from the Potemkin village act going on at 1300 Franklin by the Commissioners now. If anything, they can squander more money on glossy brochures and hiring underqualified personnel who draw County government into unneeded lawsuits. We could even (gasp) go "vote", in advisory ballot, on "how" we're going to fund all the growth the Commissioners pick. Given Commish actions this past year don't have much bearing on real-world analysis and actually looking out windows at how people are living lives here in the County, its a bit like a Sim City scenario to me.
I only hope our new Charter is voted in by us and resolves current lunacy responsibly.
Read more on this: ovancouvria.blogspot.com.
I would assume that RESPONSIBLE County Commissioners would pick, say, the 562K number said comm planning director provides. However, we must remember that, in terms of fully funding a responsible and financially sound urban government that our County residents NEED, Commissioners have fallen far short - preferring instead to hand out giveaways big and small, axe (at DES) needed services for low-income folks (by nixing County WSU Extension funding), forget about covering costs for sound zoning and planning analysis of said growth, nitpick a proposed bridge that is costing the County NOTHING to death through their Olympia friend (said Senator/Director of DES Benton), throw red herrings at us (votes on bridges that wont be built, suggesting Humane Society shouldn't get paid to do animal control, withholding funds from economic development councils, putting their political energies behind throwing their opponents out of office/suing them for libel), among other things. Lets not forget the five/six lawsuits against the County that WILL, eventually (regardless of what "lawyers I know in this room say" (quoting Madore from November open BOCC meeting) wind up costing the County $6+M - our entire reserve and then some.
Funding, as Bill Barron knew, for County's current level of services is DOWN 15% from last year. As far as I know, the County's own community planning director in this very article didn't say anything about County population shrinking 15%.
Hence, I'm worried that Commissioners could pick whatever number suits THEIR fancy - which, according to Commissioner Madore in a magazine interview January 2013, was a vision of Clark County flatlands "filled with big homes on one-acre lots as far as the eye can see". I believe Madore also rhapsodied about a Clark County with a million people in it (all in these lovely sounding McMansions?) by 2040-50 or so. Will all these people follow NIke (as Madore wished for last year in an open letter to the company) across the river to their new suburban paradises? Or what?
Its my guess that whatever new influx happens isn't going to be able to afford said happy homes on acre lots. Let alone be able to fully cover their own basic needs. Or pay for their own roads, public health, parks, etc. My feeling is that we're going to have lots more people, from Portland-side and elsewhere around the world, squeezed out of even more expensive situations than what we have here, looking to us because, relatively speaking, we're cheaper than others, have pretty scenery, OK schools, and chances at decent work close at hand. We're particularly, I think, going to get more and more poorer folks squeezed out of Portland's rising prices and holier-than-thou sustainability makeover - especially as it accelerates in St Johns, east of 205, and below Foster Rd. These folks are gonna need our County to help out.
Although...all things being equal, and in line with Commissioner habits, they'll probably just pick a gigantic number to impress corporate folks and investor folks in publicity blitzes, The Columbian will report that number without questioning the math, lovely colorful projected budgets will be produced on glossy paper (on County money), blogger pundits backing Commissioners will gush over their serene wisdom and exhort naysayers to see the light, and then powers-that-be at County will quietly "forget" they ever picked a number in the first place - thus another episode in County government's Potemkin village novel. Gawd forbid we ever get any inkling of where new revenues will come from to pay for all the things people that move here by then might need. That would mean higher taxes, putting fees back into place, not publishing glossy self-congratulatory flyers to garbage customers on County dime, and (gasp) paying the Humane Society. Oh, and not doing stupid stuff to get the County sued.
You'd think all you people living in suburban unincorporated Clark County would get a clue already and petition to become your own cities to get services you need. Or join (gasp) Vancouver.
I'm sitting here typing this grinning over the likelihood of a 2020 Clark County stuffed to the gills in unincorporated inner-suburban and city neighborhoods (Hazel Dell, Orchards, E Minnehaha, Rose/Bagley, Heights, inner Fishers) with desperately poor people working for minimum wages at jobs provided by a tiny slice of wealthy folk, who, like the movie Elysium, live in their isolated and heavily guarded compound in the "sky" (in this case, Mt Vista, Livingston Mt, Prune Hill). Sort of like Oliver Twist meets backwoods deep South. But with beige condos and McMansions.
I am, of course, praying (and not nitpicking) that Freeholders will come up with a new Charter that changes County government into a much more responsible and wise place than its current state. And that we vote YES on the new Charter to get back to some sanity when it comes to encouraging growth, providing for growth, and directing growth. Which, as the US Census knows (why aren't County planning officials looking at Census projections and DOING THEIR JOBS?) will be around 600K in 2020. NOT 562K. I only pray Commissioners don't go ahead and continue their "wild ride" ala Mister Toad, and defer decisions about growth, and planning for it, to wiser heads on an expanded County Council post-charter and rearranged departments that are managed by folks who know about and care for their professional responsibilities and duties to us, the citizens of Clark County - rather than showboat in from Olympia 3 days a week when they're not sitting in Senate session.
I'm knocking wood.
Why not just take the US Census number for Clark County 2020 - 600K - and run with that? Its not like picking a bigger number would in any way detract from the Potemkin village act going on at 1300 Franklin by the Commissioners now. If anything, they can squander more money on glossy brochures and hiring underqualified personnel who draw County government into unneeded lawsuits. We could even (gasp) go "vote", in advisory ballot, on "how" we're going to fund all the growth the Commissioners pick. Given Commish actions this past year don't have much bearing on real-world analysis and actually looking out windows at how people are living lives here in the County, its a bit like a Sim City scenario to me.
I only hope our new Charter is voted in by us and resolves current lunacy responsibly.
Read more on this: ovancouvria.blogspot.com.
I would assume that RESPONSIBLE County Commissioners would pick, say, the 562K number said comm planning director provides. However, we must remember that, in terms of fully funding a responsible and financially sound urban government that our County residents NEED, Commissioners have fallen far short - preferring instead to hand out giveaways big and small, axe (at DES) needed services for low-income folks (by nixing County WSU Extension funding), forget about covering costs for sound zoning and planning analysis of said growth, nitpick a proposed bridge that is costing the County NOTHING to death through their Olympia friend (said Senator/Director of DES Benton), throw red herrings at us (votes on bridges that wont be built, suggesting Humane Society shouldn't get paid to do animal control, withholding funds from economic development councils, putting their political energies behind throwing their opponents out of office/suing them for libel), among other things. Lets not forget the five/six lawsuits against the County that WILL, eventually (regardless of what "lawyers I know in this room say" (quoting Madore from November open BOCC meeting) wind up costing the County $6+M - our entire reserve and then some.
Funding, as Bill Barron knew, for County's current level of services is DOWN 15% from last year. As far as I know, the County's own community planning director in this very article didn't say anything about County population shrinking 15%.
Hence, I'm worried that Commissioners could pick whatever number suits THEIR fancy - which, according to Commissioner Madore in a magazine interview January 2013, was a vision of Clark County flatlands "filled with big homes on one-acre lots as far as the eye can see". I believe Madore also rhapsodied about a Clark County with a million people in it (all in these lovely sounding McMansions?) by 2040-50 or so. Will all these people follow NIke (as Madore wished for last year in an open letter to the company) across the river to their new suburban paradises? Or what?
Its my guess that whatever new influx happens isn't going to be able to afford said happy homes on acre lots. Let alone be able to fully cover their own basic needs. Or pay for their own roads, public health, parks, etc. My feeling is that we're going to have lots more people, from Portland-side and elsewhere around the world, squeezed out of even more expensive situations than what we have here, looking to us because, relatively speaking, we're cheaper than others, have pretty scenery, OK schools, and chances at decent work close at hand. We're particularly, I think, going to get more and more poorer folks squeezed out of Portland's rising prices and holier-than-thou sustainability makeover - especially as it accelerates in St Johns, east of 205, and below Foster Rd. These folks are gonna need our County to help out.
Although...all things being equal, and in line with Commissioner habits, they'll probably just pick a gigantic number to impress corporate folks and investor folks in publicity blitzes, The Columbian will report that number without questioning the math, lovely colorful projected budgets will be produced on glossy paper (on County money), blogger pundits backing Commissioners will gush over their serene wisdom and exhort naysayers to see the light, and then powers-that-be at County will quietly "forget" they ever picked a number in the first place - thus another episode in County government's Potemkin village novel. Gawd forbid we ever get any inkling of where new revenues will come from to pay for all the things people that move here by then might need. That would mean higher taxes, putting fees back into place, not publishing glossy self-congratulatory flyers to garbage customers on County dime, and (gasp) paying the Humane Society. Oh, and not doing stupid stuff to get the County sued.
You'd think all you people living in suburban unincorporated Clark County would get a clue already and petition to become your own cities to get services you need. Or join (gasp) Vancouver.
I'm sitting here typing this grinning over the likelihood of a 2020 Clark County stuffed to the gills in unincorporated inner-suburban and city neighborhoods (Hazel Dell, Orchards, E Minnehaha, Rose/Bagley, Heights, inner Fishers) with desperately poor people working for minimum wages at jobs provided by a tiny slice of wealthy folk, who, like the movie Elysium, live in their isolated and heavily guarded compound in the "sky" (in this case, Mt Vista, Livingston Mt, Prune Hill). Sort of like Oliver Twist meets backwoods deep South. But with beige condos and McMansions.
I am, of course, praying (and not nitpicking) that Freeholders will come up with a new Charter that changes County government into a much more responsible and wise place than its current state. And that we vote YES on the new Charter to get back to some sanity when it comes to encouraging growth, providing for growth, and directing growth. Which, as the US Census knows (why aren't County planning officials looking at Census projections and DOING THEIR JOBS?) will be around 600K in 2020. NOT 562K. I only pray Commissioners don't go ahead and continue their "wild ride" ala Mister Toad, and defer decisions about growth, and planning for it, to wiser heads on an expanded County Council post-charter and rearranged departments that are managed by folks who know about and care for their professional responsibilities and duties to us, the citizens of Clark County - rather than showboat in from Olympia 3 days a week when they're not sitting in Senate session.
I'm knocking wood.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Why I'm Done Being a Political Activist for Good Clark County Gov't (For Now)
So I decided the other day, after being unable to get up to a Clark Co Citizens for Good Governance meet & greet (held at a transit-inaccessible location) that I just really was putting way too much effort into a project that only kept my adrenalin humming at a high rate...stress city, from constantly being affronted by what Madore, Mielke, Benton, etc were doing NOW.
Plus I found myself spending alot of time working to get records, reading posts from others, responding with suggestions, etc - alot of time being an activist about an injustice, that, if you really think about it, is going away in about a year. Very short in terms of political time indeed.
So - rather than give myself a migraine (let alone spend time I should be job hunting being an activist), I've decided to let up on local good government activism for the time being. The Freeholders are busy writing us up a new Charter (in theory), that we all get to VOTE on come this November 2014. Signs point to a YES passage - as most County citizens are agreed that we need SOMETHING other than "this" (be they Madoreites or CRC fans). Hence, we shall have new government, more accountable government, very soon.
I believe I can hold my breath (or hold my nose) until then, unless something so blatantly egregious and sinister happens that goes above and beyond the levels of stink already at County government. There's plenty of other folks eager to play watchdog, not to mention the multiple lawsuits facing County recklessness. Hence, I don't need to add to the Greek choir.
I'll support whatever y'all turn up. I just ain't gonna stretch out on a limb no more about it. That's all, y'all.
Plus I found myself spending alot of time working to get records, reading posts from others, responding with suggestions, etc - alot of time being an activist about an injustice, that, if you really think about it, is going away in about a year. Very short in terms of political time indeed.
So - rather than give myself a migraine (let alone spend time I should be job hunting being an activist), I've decided to let up on local good government activism for the time being. The Freeholders are busy writing us up a new Charter (in theory), that we all get to VOTE on come this November 2014. Signs point to a YES passage - as most County citizens are agreed that we need SOMETHING other than "this" (be they Madoreites or CRC fans). Hence, we shall have new government, more accountable government, very soon.
I believe I can hold my breath (or hold my nose) until then, unless something so blatantly egregious and sinister happens that goes above and beyond the levels of stink already at County government. There's plenty of other folks eager to play watchdog, not to mention the multiple lawsuits facing County recklessness. Hence, I don't need to add to the Greek choir.
I'll support whatever y'all turn up. I just ain't gonna stretch out on a limb no more about it. That's all, y'all.
Central Library Stinky Elevators
Can SOMEONE please TELL ME why the Central Library elevators continually STINK LIKE DITCH WEED???? It smells like someone tried to light a blunt in there, or something.
FVRL folks: spring for the air freshener. Sheesh.
FVRL folks: spring for the air freshener. Sheesh.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Vancouvers Empty Private Spaces
It doesnt do a city any good to allow entities within it to leave large tracts of land, 100 acres plus, vacant and neglected. Case in point: the old Kyocera space at Stapleton & 4th Plain. Also the "proposed" Walmart devo at Ward & 4th Plain. Oh yeah...the empty prairie I think owned by the Deaf School between E 5th St & Columbia House Blvd. Lets also not forget the abandoned office parks along 112th NE. And finally, the Tech Center gravel pits, the continued Westridge at 192nd half built craphole, and my fav, the closed off Evergreen Airfield, 136th & SE Mill Plain...with its perfectly good new arterial streets that are STILL CLOSED after 2 years.
Meanwhile, lets not forget the spaces reserved for "exclusive" use, usually with barbedwire fencing...the Vets Admin enclosure comes to mind right away...I love how the VA can enclose a public park, the old Fort concession, with barbed wire and only 2 points of pedestrian access...neither convenient to the poor peoples building - i.e. Public Health. Would it somehow disturb national security to include a GATE for poor folks in shit health to walk thru somewhere near the building...like I5 and 4th Plain?
Another one I love that seems to have a "sweetheart" deal going on is The Columbian's blocking off of W 5th St et al, for the sole purpose of parking their trucks. If parking space is so badly needed for the trucks there, move your printery elsewhere. Like Kyocera?
Finally, I love Clark Colleges fencing and blocking. God forbid folks should be able to walk thru whats left of Vancouver Central Park off 4th Plain and cut thru to Reserve St, the college itself, or other spots. What on earth might they do?
I wont even mention downtown Vancouvers misuse and shutoff of good usable space...btw, LOVE what the Vanc School Dist had done with "old" City Hall...yeah baby. Abandoned 60s buildings SCREAM Pearl District.
Yes. Im shrill. But these are problems that affect where and how we live. Most are quickly fixed.
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