Citizens For A Better Providence Meeting Notes 6/11/2009

[Citizens for a Better Providence]

Dear Friends,

Below please find the meeting notes from our meeting at the Cable Car last Thursday.  We will be moving this list over to Google Groups for future updates, so please join if you haven't already.

Notes from Citizens For A Better Providence Meeting 6/11/2009

CBP’s first organizing meeting opened with a brief description of our vision for Citizens For A Better Providence and a description of the loose framework for people to get involved in the issue areas that most interest them  -- a City Organizational Chart was provided to illustrate what issues fall where within the government structure.  Lorne Adrain also emphasized that CBP is envisioned as a truly horizontal organization and encouraged people to jump on board and take charge of whatever organizational or policy related element might inspire them.

The meeting then moved to general discussion of possible avenues for the group that included expressions of areas of interest and experience from meeting participants in attendance.  A number of themes emerged:

1.    Appreciation for the positive tone of the campaign and rally to Save the Conference of Mayors and a recognition of the need for a higher level of civil discourse that stays above the toxic mudslinging that often accompanies policy debate in our city.
2.    The need for (and challenges to) greater citizen attention to and participation in City meetings, hearings, etc. and the lack of transparency in current City dealings.
3.    The importance of advocating for simplified policies and processes in the city – for the sake of businesses and individuals.

There were a number of next steps suggested for increasing the reach of CBP and improving the access of members and Providences residents to issues related to the City.

1.    Coordinate with and piggyback on Neighborhood Associations and their meetings.
2.    Provide links to information on City meetings, hearings, etc. on the CBP website.  Look into a way to create rotating pools of people to attend and report back.
3.    Find good, committed, inspiring people to take on specific areas of work.  Several people in attendance agreed to take on specific roles.

The meeting concluded with a substantive discussion of the tax-exempt status issue as it relates to the city’s Universities.  Al Dahlberg, Brown University’s new head of Government and Community Relations joined the meeting at the very end to give Brown’s perspective.  Meeting participants were strongly in favor of Universities contributing more to the city coffers but there was significant distrust of Brown, in particular, to hold up any bargain.  Al Dahlberg wondered if there were ways for citizens and Universities to work together on promoting structural reforms – the funding formula in particular – which meeting participants agreed would be a great thing for Universities and citizens alike to take on.

If you were at the meeting and would like to add to this description, or you were not there but would like to join the conversation, please respond to this email or post it on the discussion board at www.betterprovidence.org, our Google Group or Facebook.  And always, if you would like to take a greater role in Citizens For A Better Providence, let us know what inspires you.  We'd love to have you!

Many thanks,
Lorne Adrain and Meredith Pearson

--
Citizens for a Better Providence
www.betterprovidence.org