Some of the points I took away:
1) citizen vs. taxpayer
2) The citizens of Athens: When they disagreed, they could
eventually come to consensus because they cared more about Athens than
about winning.
3) neighborhood associations as units to help make a whole city more
livable
4) The strength of the city comes from its citizens getting involved.
e.g We can't expect the city to build a linear park if the citizens
aren't willing to pitch in and help make it come about. The Farmer's
Market won't continue to happen if citizens don't make it happen.
5) Following up on #4, new citizens should be educated that, if they
came to the city because they heard it was wonderful, they need to get
involved to keep it wonderful.
6) If you hear about a wonderful city, don't just move there.
Find out what makes it wonderful and make that happen in your own city.
(Related to this, see Stephen Lyons' -- yes, of Moscow! -- essay on the
back page of High Country News in the Sept. 4, 1995 issue).
7) Public life involves work, but it should also include celebration.
There was much more I took from this talk, but I've said enough. I hope
others will add to my list.
Thanks to those who organized this series and invited Dan Kemmis. Great
job!
Diane Prorak
prorak@uidaho.edu