The arts, culture and charity are not the business of Governance. Charitable organizations, philanthropists and organizations dedicated to the various arts exist for those causes. Government exists to build and maintain infrastructure, safety, law enforcement and economic opportunity. We need to keep Government out of the charity business.
Jeff, I like the thought that public trust needs to be earned, and re-earned, everyday. The public can never take for granted that the elected, or non-elected, official will always do what is in the best interest of the public. Does the public know that each commissioner is on over 22 Boards or committees? Jeff is right: Know your representatives by attending meetings, asking questions, and giving comment. At the very least the Peanut Gallery is listening.
It’s called the “Hawthorne effect” they did a study in a factory on if more lighting increases productivity and what they found is that the workers were more productive when the researchers were observing them work not the increased lighting. So, yes we all benefit from being observed or knowing people are watching or listening, etc. Also, I assume y’all have read this helpful county guide book: https://mrsc.org/getmedia/1e641718-94a0-408b-b9d9-42b2e1d8180d/Knowing-The-Territory.pdf?ext=.pdf
If not, take a look it helps to streamline some of these issues. I watched the ethics committee and I have some thoughts, heading your way @jefftozzer. You are a saint to be so patient with the diarrhea of the month from the county attorney…no offense but someone trying to follow things (listening) while driving to work from the WestEnd to Sequim I wanted to drive myself off the edge to make the endless fumblings of those being paid to do there job floors me!
Imagine what the board could be if the commissinors were replaced with folks who were responsive to the public and not special interests like the tribe? Culture tax? They've got to be kidding. And grants to NGOs? Do the commisioners servenon their boards...for a minor fee? Elections are coming!
More than that, Mike French said, "My position is, property destruction is not only fine, it is usually the only way we've ever seen actual change happen, accompanied with strikes". If we destroy his car or house, will we get the change we seek? Or maybe, at the next meeting with these commissioners, if everyone attending started throwing chairs around, breaking things, and screaming, maybe this is the only thing these people understand, as they are so used to their loud, violent constituents to cause property destruction, which he said was "fine".
Thanks Jeff for giving us the opportunity to engage in this culture of community ! And your new intro song from the 4 yr old sounds so much like Frank Zappa with the Mothers of Invention , the fun Doo whop they sang , do do she had a swimming pool ! Thanks for the smiles!! You Mother of inspiration !
Voters expect the elected to be transparent and to tell the truth,elected that do not are obviously doing bad things and do not want to be held accountable.
A culture tax to help inmates do ... what??? Be more comfortable while they pay their debt to society?? And that will teach them that ... there are no harsh consequences for being law-breaking scofflaws. Meanwhile, tax dollars -- for which many of our government leaders seem to think there is an endless supply -- do not go to basic foundational priorities like infrastructure maintenance and repair, and so on, instead to ridiculous ideas like this, and free pizza and drugs for addicts, ad infinitum. As they say, elections have consequences, something the public must remember downstream.
The Commissioners AND the City Councils have forgotten what they are supposed to do. Their duty is to be the "board of directors" to the staff. They're supposed to manage the budget, represent the community, make policy decisions, provide oversight to the county/city staff, encourage civic engagement, and comply with state/local regulations and ethics guidelines.
What they don't do is have any oversight for hiring/firing city staff. They tend to not set the agendas -- the county manager/city manager do this (but the Commissioners/Councils can add to the agenda).
If my memory serves me correctly,I was taught that a manager should limit their supervision to four or five people.I know things have changed, but how do you you do your job and give meaningful council to twenty plus boards?
that's why I totally believe that if you are elected to a position -- that is your ONLY job. You can't have multiple masters. I think it's completely insane for all of the non-profits and other groups to seek out the elected as new members of their boards. (They sure weren't clamoring for them BEFORE they were elected.) Its so obviously a play for favoritism.
French asserted that he would "prioritize" public engagement. Out-of-context language at it's zenith, depending on one's understanding of Mike's priorities, and context as-asserted.
The arts, culture and charity are not the business of Governance. Charitable organizations, philanthropists and organizations dedicated to the various arts exist for those causes. Government exists to build and maintain infrastructure, safety, law enforcement and economic opportunity. We need to keep Government out of the charity business.
Jeff, I like the thought that public trust needs to be earned, and re-earned, everyday. The public can never take for granted that the elected, or non-elected, official will always do what is in the best interest of the public. Does the public know that each commissioner is on over 22 Boards or committees? Jeff is right: Know your representatives by attending meetings, asking questions, and giving comment. At the very least the Peanut Gallery is listening.
It’s called the “Hawthorne effect” they did a study in a factory on if more lighting increases productivity and what they found is that the workers were more productive when the researchers were observing them work not the increased lighting. So, yes we all benefit from being observed or knowing people are watching or listening, etc. Also, I assume y’all have read this helpful county guide book: https://mrsc.org/getmedia/1e641718-94a0-408b-b9d9-42b2e1d8180d/Knowing-The-Territory.pdf?ext=.pdf
If not, take a look it helps to streamline some of these issues. I watched the ethics committee and I have some thoughts, heading your way @jefftozzer. You are a saint to be so patient with the diarrhea of the month from the county attorney…no offense but someone trying to follow things (listening) while driving to work from the WestEnd to Sequim I wanted to drive myself off the edge to make the endless fumblings of those being paid to do there job floors me!
Great info. Thanks, Dr. Sarah!
Imagine what the board could be if the commissinors were replaced with folks who were responsive to the public and not special interests like the tribe? Culture tax? They've got to be kidding. And grants to NGOs? Do the commisioners servenon their boards...for a minor fee? Elections are coming!
Maybe we should hold protests and riots like demo rats do when they don't get their way. Seems to work for them. Especially in this state.
In the past, Commissioner French said that protests are OK. Wonder how he feels about that now.
More than that, Mike French said, "My position is, property destruction is not only fine, it is usually the only way we've ever seen actual change happen, accompanied with strikes". If we destroy his car or house, will we get the change we seek? Or maybe, at the next meeting with these commissioners, if everyone attending started throwing chairs around, breaking things, and screaming, maybe this is the only thing these people understand, as they are so used to their loud, violent constituents to cause property destruction, which he said was "fine".
Thanks Jeff for giving us the opportunity to engage in this culture of community ! And your new intro song from the 4 yr old sounds so much like Frank Zappa with the Mothers of Invention , the fun Doo whop they sang , do do she had a swimming pool ! Thanks for the smiles!! You Mother of inspiration !
Voters expect the elected to be transparent and to tell the truth,elected that do not are obviously doing bad things and do not want to be held accountable.
A culture tax to help inmates do ... what??? Be more comfortable while they pay their debt to society?? And that will teach them that ... there are no harsh consequences for being law-breaking scofflaws. Meanwhile, tax dollars -- for which many of our government leaders seem to think there is an endless supply -- do not go to basic foundational priorities like infrastructure maintenance and repair, and so on, instead to ridiculous ideas like this, and free pizza and drugs for addicts, ad infinitum. As they say, elections have consequences, something the public must remember downstream.
The Commissioners AND the City Councils have forgotten what they are supposed to do. Their duty is to be the "board of directors" to the staff. They're supposed to manage the budget, represent the community, make policy decisions, provide oversight to the county/city staff, encourage civic engagement, and comply with state/local regulations and ethics guidelines.
What they don't do is have any oversight for hiring/firing city staff. They tend to not set the agendas -- the county manager/city manager do this (but the Commissioners/Councils can add to the agenda).
source MSRC: https://mrsc.org/explore-topics/officials/roles/roles-and-responsibilities#questions (Because some of "those" who like to attack accuse me of using AI.)
Mimi, I've heard you speak at public meetings. You always give a perspective that is insightful. Thank you for speaking your mind.
If my memory serves me correctly,I was taught that a manager should limit their supervision to four or five people.I know things have changed, but how do you you do your job and give meaningful council to twenty plus boards?
that's why I totally believe that if you are elected to a position -- that is your ONLY job. You can't have multiple masters. I think it's completely insane for all of the non-profits and other groups to seek out the elected as new members of their boards. (They sure weren't clamoring for them BEFORE they were elected.) Its so obviously a play for favoritism.
French asserted that he would "prioritize" public engagement. Out-of-context language at it's zenith, depending on one's understanding of Mike's priorities, and context as-asserted.