Did I Blink and Miss The Community's Input?
December 14, 2008 Filed in: Dierdre's
Corner
Background: In 2003, the City of Englewood
purchased the Liberty School from the Board of
Education. Now facing a downturned economy,
city officials are
looking to sell the property to offload debt and
bring in money. BergenPAC has proposed that the
property be used for an arts academy. Others have
proposed that it be used for residential
development. Our three editors take a look at the
issue from their own perspectives.
At what point did such a complex, intriguing, and significant issue as deciding the fates of Liberty and Lincoln Schools devolve into a debate about whether the space should be used for more condos or a bergenPAC-affiliated performing arts academy? Did I blink and miss something or was there no authentic community involvement and no process in place to facilitate a public dialogue on the matter?
I understand the concept behind bringing more ratables (e.g. condominiums and office buildings) to Englewood and the attendant belief that ratables will produce more tax revenues and concomitantly lower property taxes. Theoretically, this strategy works. Yet, for Englewood and when viewed within the context of the current recession, it has not worked in the recent past. During the last round of City budget talks, it was acknowledged that Towne Centre and other ratables had not yet yielded the anticipated tax revenues previously projected. Recent stories in The Record have highlighted the number of businesses leaving Englewood; Group USA, Blockbuster Video, and K-B Toys to name a few. Saddest of all, Englewood's City Officials have allowed a 7-11 to set up shop here because they seem desperate for income and there was no existing ordinance on the books to prohibit all-night establishments. Undoubtedly, there will be increased crime and associated problems. I guess no one bothered to speak with Fourth Ward residents to ask us about our experiences with Jordan's Convenience Store and the crime that has plagued its surrounding area.
So, by prematurely putting out RFPs (Requests for Proposals), what is actually accomplished? Don't the same cast of politically connected developers come calling again? Most importantly, how is any development or redevelopment we do here in Englewood aligned with a vision for this municipality? How many on the City Council have even checked the Englewood City Charter and Master Plan to determine the vision that was once held for Englewood? Can it still be actualized? Do we need to collectively revisit these documents and recast our vision?
Just because I am critical of the ratables idea, however, should not be taken to mean that I am a fan of the Performing Arts Academy. As loaded a term as "blighted" is for some Third Ward residents in these discussions of Liberty/Lincoln Schools, establishing any school for "disadvantaged" students hits a sore spot for me! The characterization is not mine, it appeared in The Northern Valley Suburbanite.
Black and Latino youngsters predominantly attend Englewood public schools. So, it is abundantly clear that the "disadvantaged" referenced are our kids. (Prior to advancing my argument, I would like to explain my preference for the term "Black" rather than "African American." African American is a limited term and does not include our brothers and sisters who have immigrated to this country and Englewood from the Caribbean, Africa, and other global regions. I use the term to be most inclusive.)
Why is it that our kids must always be given the option to sing and dance when other students are being prepared to succeed academically? Further, in this floundering economy, how many of our kids will find jobs in the performing arts? Don't we reinforce the stereotype that all our kids can aspire to become are hip-hop stars and athletes, when we've clearly shattered that myth with the election of Barack Obama?
Now, within the Black and Latino communities, we fully realize that all of our children will not make it to college. But, they should be provided with the option of getting jobs where they can make a living wage. If we were thinking about yet another school in Englewood, why wouldn't a vocational-technical path for students be proposed as well? Most importantly, students and their families who utilize the public schools should have primary say about such decisions.
Ultimately, it is possible that neither plan is best for Englewood. But, they should be heard nonetheless. In talking with various community activists as an ordinary resident, I have come across some other innovative concepts regarding the properties discussed. One activist shared his concern about maintaining Liberty School's façade and preserving its historic nature. He also mentioned a possibility I hadn't heard before…making Liberty School into a municipal complex where all City department heads would be housed. Now, it is possible that this plan won't make its way to fruition either. Yet, my major point is that all such views should be heard.
My biggest problem with this entire debacle is the fact that a number of our City officials have apparently abdicated their collective responsibility to a City Manager and a host of City-employed experts to do the intellectual heavy lifting. The relationship is not a pure one, as these same experts were often hired by the same group they advise. So, what is the likelihood that those who serve at the pleasure of the City Council share hard facts and sometimes nay-say Council plans? Another disturbing aspect of this situation focuses on the fact that these City officials, whom we elected, do not seem to value community involvement, have attempted to circumvent the process of fostering public dialogue on this issue and many others. Additionally, there seems to be a propensity toward squelching debate and silencing dissent.
There needs to be a process in place to foster public debate. There are State-sponsored programs to which the City Council can avail itself, in an effort to teach them appropriate and tested ways in which to facilitate debate on development and redevelopment efforts. I have had enough of the Council acting as a secret society that only listens to a few trusted, although far from impartial, experts. There are lots of common folks here (with good ideas) who should be encouraged to participate in a dialogue about topics that matter to them. That is what we do in a democracy. The workings of democracy are sometimes messy and occasionally uncivil, but residents should feel (at the end of the process) that they have had ample opportunity to participate in local government. Finally, developing a process and encouraging optimal community input will take time. It is not something that can or should be rushed.
At what point did such a complex, intriguing, and significant issue as deciding the fates of Liberty and Lincoln Schools devolve into a debate about whether the space should be used for more condos or a bergenPAC-affiliated performing arts academy? Did I blink and miss something or was there no authentic community involvement and no process in place to facilitate a public dialogue on the matter?
I understand the concept behind bringing more ratables (e.g. condominiums and office buildings) to Englewood and the attendant belief that ratables will produce more tax revenues and concomitantly lower property taxes. Theoretically, this strategy works. Yet, for Englewood and when viewed within the context of the current recession, it has not worked in the recent past. During the last round of City budget talks, it was acknowledged that Towne Centre and other ratables had not yet yielded the anticipated tax revenues previously projected. Recent stories in The Record have highlighted the number of businesses leaving Englewood; Group USA, Blockbuster Video, and K-B Toys to name a few. Saddest of all, Englewood's City Officials have allowed a 7-11 to set up shop here because they seem desperate for income and there was no existing ordinance on the books to prohibit all-night establishments. Undoubtedly, there will be increased crime and associated problems. I guess no one bothered to speak with Fourth Ward residents to ask us about our experiences with Jordan's Convenience Store and the crime that has plagued its surrounding area.
So, by prematurely putting out RFPs (Requests for Proposals), what is actually accomplished? Don't the same cast of politically connected developers come calling again? Most importantly, how is any development or redevelopment we do here in Englewood aligned with a vision for this municipality? How many on the City Council have even checked the Englewood City Charter and Master Plan to determine the vision that was once held for Englewood? Can it still be actualized? Do we need to collectively revisit these documents and recast our vision?
Just because I am critical of the ratables idea, however, should not be taken to mean that I am a fan of the Performing Arts Academy. As loaded a term as "blighted" is for some Third Ward residents in these discussions of Liberty/Lincoln Schools, establishing any school for "disadvantaged" students hits a sore spot for me! The characterization is not mine, it appeared in The Northern Valley Suburbanite.
Black and Latino youngsters predominantly attend Englewood public schools. So, it is abundantly clear that the "disadvantaged" referenced are our kids. (Prior to advancing my argument, I would like to explain my preference for the term "Black" rather than "African American." African American is a limited term and does not include our brothers and sisters who have immigrated to this country and Englewood from the Caribbean, Africa, and other global regions. I use the term to be most inclusive.)
Why is it that our kids must always be given the option to sing and dance when other students are being prepared to succeed academically? Further, in this floundering economy, how many of our kids will find jobs in the performing arts? Don't we reinforce the stereotype that all our kids can aspire to become are hip-hop stars and athletes, when we've clearly shattered that myth with the election of Barack Obama?
Now, within the Black and Latino communities, we fully realize that all of our children will not make it to college. But, they should be provided with the option of getting jobs where they can make a living wage. If we were thinking about yet another school in Englewood, why wouldn't a vocational-technical path for students be proposed as well? Most importantly, students and their families who utilize the public schools should have primary say about such decisions.
Ultimately, it is possible that neither plan is best for Englewood. But, they should be heard nonetheless. In talking with various community activists as an ordinary resident, I have come across some other innovative concepts regarding the properties discussed. One activist shared his concern about maintaining Liberty School's façade and preserving its historic nature. He also mentioned a possibility I hadn't heard before…making Liberty School into a municipal complex where all City department heads would be housed. Now, it is possible that this plan won't make its way to fruition either. Yet, my major point is that all such views should be heard.
My biggest problem with this entire debacle is the fact that a number of our City officials have apparently abdicated their collective responsibility to a City Manager and a host of City-employed experts to do the intellectual heavy lifting. The relationship is not a pure one, as these same experts were often hired by the same group they advise. So, what is the likelihood that those who serve at the pleasure of the City Council share hard facts and sometimes nay-say Council plans? Another disturbing aspect of this situation focuses on the fact that these City officials, whom we elected, do not seem to value community involvement, have attempted to circumvent the process of fostering public dialogue on this issue and many others. Additionally, there seems to be a propensity toward squelching debate and silencing dissent.
There needs to be a process in place to foster public debate. There are State-sponsored programs to which the City Council can avail itself, in an effort to teach them appropriate and tested ways in which to facilitate debate on development and redevelopment efforts. I have had enough of the Council acting as a secret society that only listens to a few trusted, although far from impartial, experts. There are lots of common folks here (with good ideas) who should be encouraged to participate in a dialogue about topics that matter to them. That is what we do in a democracy. The workings of democracy are sometimes messy and occasionally uncivil, but residents should feel (at the end of the process) that they have had ample opportunity to participate in local government. Finally, developing a process and encouraging optimal community input will take time. It is not something that can or should be rushed.
