Sunday’s UNOP Meeting
July 31st, 2006 by Michael HomanI wrote the following letter-to-the-editor after readings John Pope’s article in Monday’s Times-Picayune (7-31-06):
Like approximately 1000 of my neighbors, my family and I attended the Unified New Orleans Plan meeting Sunday. However, our experience varied dramatically from the one reported by John Pope, who writes “participants sat on white folding chairs as they were told which technical assistance teams will be available, and they discussed criteria for working with these groups and the projects to be undertaken.” Instead, most of the people left early when they saw the lack of space, though we stayed and stood for five hours. We strained to hear our facilitator who knew less about the process than most in the audience, and the task that was allotted the most time was putting red dots on various maps to represent our houses. We were “helped” to formulate questions for the planners in a manner which would have insulted those with the IQ of a six-year-old. Our district was TOLD by our facilitator that we wanted one overall district planner. Then 48 hours later, after 10 minute presentations by the planners on Tuesday, we’re asked to choose a planner. It seems this “Unified” process, certainly one of the most important choices to be made in the long and storied history of New Orleans, is meant to have the veneer of having public input, though our voice is not being heard in the process thus far.
July 31st, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Becky Houtman said the same thing. I’m glad that someone responded to the Times-Picayune piece. The meeting was very poorly attended. What got to me most was the continual reference to the “democratic process”.
The “democratic process” requires and email address in order to participate. You also have to attend two poorly announced meetings. On scheduled at the last minute, one scheduled in conflict with a nationwide neighborhood event.
Who’s going to verify these results? What voting system is going to be used? Is it going to be the same system that firms use to hold stockholder elections? Or is it something being written up by an undergraduate that does web pages?
July 31st, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Er, she didn’t say the same thing, I meant she linked to it, and I’ve been trying to find the time to write a response, and so thank you, because your response it concise.
July 31st, 2006 at 4:48 pm
No, I didn’t say the same thing, but I wish I had. Even if I’d had more time to post this morning, I wouldn’t have known where to start. I’m glad you sent it to the paper - I really hope they print it.