tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post5316616231706297194..comments2024-03-01T07:43:16.529-06:00Comments on Smart City Memphis: City Council Acts On Urge To MergeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-17195058864689913212009-09-16T21:27:26.920-05:002009-09-16T21:27:26.920-05:00If it gets rid of the city council, I"M ALL F...If it gets rid of the city council, I"M ALL FOR IT!!<br /> That is the worst set of "representatives" I've ever sen on this planet.NEW SOLUTIONS GROUPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13514949098996509838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-54424447953955913342009-09-16T15:09:37.882-05:002009-09-16T15:09:37.882-05:00Thanks for the reminder, Aaron. Here's the we...Thanks for the reminder, Aaron. Here's the website: http://reinventgovernment.org/learnmoreSmart City Consultinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13985783340016474051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-21088138945418178432009-09-16T15:07:30.045-05:002009-09-16T15:07:30.045-05:00" . . .merged government brings new faces int..." . . .merged government brings new faces into the process, particularly if districts are shrunk so that more grassroots people could afford to run for office."<br /><br />I would hope this would happen. the current multi-member districts prevent anyone from running who isn't either rich or beholding to large amounts of special interst money.<br /><br />I submitted a proposal like this to the City charter commission. a couple of them smiled at me and then Myron and company proceeded to flush my idea down the toilet.dwaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06087519199553749481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-56724994361305136352009-09-16T14:10:11.244-05:002009-09-16T14:10:11.244-05:00In reverse order:
You are right about the electio...In reverse order:<br /><br />You are right about the election of the same old people, but what has happened in other cities is that the new merged government brings new faces into the process, particularly if districts are shrunk so that more grassroots people could afford to run for office.<br /><br />The towns are unaffected by consolidation. None of their duties, responsibilities, and taxing authorities are touched. <br /><br />There is much research and information on the Reinventing Government website, and while monetary savings are good, they are not the most important benefit. It's about having one vision, one less government, one less set of bureaucratic redtape, etc. And for the record, city government already spends less per capita than the towns, so we think that Mayor Wharton, Mayor Pro Tem Lowery, and Commissioner Malone are right: the business model is broken and we can continue to put band-aids on the breaks or we can start over and get it right. <br /><br />Finally, this isn't about people outside Memphis trusting Memphis City Government. That government ceases to exist. If the people outside Memphis do nothing, it will be the only government they'll be dealing with and they won't even have a seat at the table. <br /><br />Thanks for the comments.Smart City Consultinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13985783340016474051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-9343303114320941182009-09-16T14:04:24.141-05:002009-09-16T14:04:24.141-05:00Consolidation will do nothing to "shake up&qu...Consolidation will do nothing to "shake up" our government if the same politicians (or similar) continue to be elected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-88474572324669103362009-09-16T10:01:20.606-05:002009-09-16T10:01:20.606-05:00All of the employees of the Herenton regime will b...All of the employees of the Herenton regime will be replaced or retire when the new administration comes into office. It doesn't matter if Jefferson is fired now or later. He knows quite a bit about many public and private dealings under WW.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-3562595736470245652009-09-16T09:57:12.865-05:002009-09-16T09:57:12.865-05:00In my opinion consolidation of Memphis and Shelby ...In my opinion consolidation of Memphis and Shelby County should leave out Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, Millington, and Artlington. Without those residents voting on the issue consolidation has a much better opportunity of passing. If we consolidate police, fire, code enforcement, and all of the unincorporated areas and reserves Memphis can begin to turn itself around. When the suburban municipalites realize we're progressing they will have a better city to spend their tax dollars if they please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-33017278136235351072009-09-16T09:54:25.218-05:002009-09-16T09:54:25.218-05:00First of all, I agree that a consolidated governme...First of all, I agree that a consolidated government would be best for us all. I am for Wharton for Mayor and back him all the way in the pursuit of consolidation.<br /><br />However, I'm not holding my breath. I would hope, that in the meantime, the City and County governments aggressively pursue piecemeal consolidation of one service after another. So if formal consolidation continues to fail, it may not matter in the long run.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-67263593140593723622009-09-16T09:02:55.745-05:002009-09-16T09:02:55.745-05:00they would have impressed me more by firing that s...they would have impressed me more by firing that stooge jefferson. typical Memphis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12509286.post-39979543101390880292009-09-16T08:36:10.887-05:002009-09-16T08:36:10.887-05:00Is there any report out there that quantifies the ...Is there any report out there that quantifies the gain in government efficiencies and monetary savings associated with consolidation?<br /><br />I think a working and flexible document that spells out initial intentions could go a long ways in clearing up smoke screens thrown out by opponents and educating the public. I want to support this consolidation but I want numbers and data to stand on.<br /><br />Even with a clearer notion of what we are getting into, there is the issue of trust. I live in the city but if I lived in suburbs I would want to see some type of demonstration first that our new Mayor is going to appoint and look for some talented government employees that are committed and dedicated to serving their city. We have many already but more are needed. <br /><br /> Show me how efficient and well run our government can be first and then perhaps our outlying neighbors will be more willing to trust Memphis City Gov. While I know some efficiencies will only be significantly improved by consolidation, there are a lot of others not associated with consolidation that stand for serious improvement. Inspire the people, educate them and gain their trust!Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03607388015996166639noreply@blogger.com