Accountability and Open Government

By Justin P. Jeffre

The only way to have a healthy democracy is with an informed and engaged electorate. Communication, citizen input and oversight will improve accountability.

I will encourage Independent Media and include them in press conferences. Community access television is an unused resource that currently lacks content. Alternative news and local events should be covered by Media Bridges and broadcast over CET. In depth discussions need to occur on subjects of race relations, providing jobs for a sustainable future, Community / Police relations, Health Care for citizens, Educating the workforce of tomorrow and Business creation and retention.

Our financial future depends on knowing what our liabilities are. How many tax dollars have been given away to corporations on our behalf? We recently read about "Huntington Meadows" and $3.95 million the Federal Government wants returned because of mismanagement. An additional $13.5 million has been spent and no satisfactory answers appear to be forthcoming about these and other transactions. This is but one of many questionable transactions. I call for a full audit of City finances and if that uncovers impropriety then the public deserves to know and people will be held accountable.

I suggest we look at City Council to identify what the problems are and why it has been ineffective in the past. Are council terms long enough? With two year terms are long term initiatives overlooked? If you ask a Council Member what is the district you cover the reply is "from Salyer Park to Mt. Washington". We need to discuss how to make representatives more responsible. This can be done two ways; first, geographic districts could be assigned to each member or second, departments within city government would be the primary focus of members. When you call City Hall with a problem with Animal Control, for example, and you are not satisfied there would be a councilperson assigned to deal with that department. Council will get to decide whether to organize horizontally or vertically.