The other is about the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2035 Transportation Plan. $400 million. Hm, I wonder how much rail and bus passenger service we could implement with a fraction of that.
Carolyn Selby reminds the Lowndes County Commission at their regular meeting on 9 February 2010 that residents
asked the Commission to redesign Quarterman Road for slower traffic.
“You did throw us a bone by limiting the speed limit at 35 miles per hour. But it’s not enforceable We asked you to put in speed humps…. Nope. Couldn’t do that.She took pictures. She called 911, and they caught one of the dragsters. Neighborhood Watch in action.You designed a mile and a half straight-away, and they have come. Welcome to the Quarterman Road Drag Strip!
The Commission responds by looking at County Engineer Mike Fletcher: Continue reading
City Manager Larry Hanson read the election results.
Deidra White was elected for the first time, to District 2. Here she organizes the news photographers, gets sworn in, and gets a standing ovation. The Valdosta Daily Times doesn’t appear to have posted a story about this meeting afterwards, but it did post a story beforehand, spelling her first name wrong, and concluding: Continue reading
White House press release:
The Open Government Directive, called for by President Obama on his first full day in office, puts accountability and accessibility at the center of how the federal government operates. It instructs agencies to share information with the public through online, open, accessible, machine-readable formats. Agencies are to inventory existing information and establish a timeline for publishing them online to increase agency accountability and responsiveness; improve public knowledge of the agency and its operations; further the core mission of the agency; create economic opportunity; or respond to need and demand as identified through public consultation.Agency accountability and responsiveness! What a novel idea. Why I wonder if such a thing could be tailored to local governments?
Second, it aims to instill the values of transparency, participation, and collaboration into the culture of every agency by requiring every agency to formulate an Open Government Plan and website. Specifically, each agency will be required to develop its own, unique roadmap in consultation with the American people and open government experts, rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach. Once again, these ideas came directly from the public’s suggestions.Government listening to the public’s suggestions? Local government department accountability? As Gandhi is reputed to have said about western civilization: “that would be a good idea!”