Gossips just received the following statement from Robert Rasner.
An Apology to the People of HUDSON
We, the Charter Change team, made an error. We missed a critical filing date. That error prevents the proposed Charter changes from appearing on the November ballot. You counted on us to do better. For our error, we are profoundly sorry.
More of you signed our petition than voted for Mayor Johnson in the recent primary. That should send a very strong message to City Hall. Are they listening?
Change is needed in our little historic city. You endorsed professional management, term limits, and a streamlined council. What will happen to those concepts?
The responsibility for carrying charter reform forward is now in the hands of our candidates. During our campaign, Mayor Johnson, Joe Ferris, and Peter Spear all promised charter reform should our proposal not succeed. Successful Council President candidate Morris also promised, if elected, to initiate charter reform.
You, the voter, hold the strongest office. Ask questions, demand clear answers and commitments from our candidates. And come November, VOTE!
You listened, you welcomed us into your homes, and we had coffee together. For these connections, we are eternally grateful. Thank you.
Robert Rasner
Spokesperson for the Charter Change Team
In many ways this is a blessing. Even though I don’t necessarily agree with the notion that the original drafting and ideation phase of this proposal was flawed; how else would a grassroots movement start? The fact that lager public comment and signatures were taken after the draft was finalized would have followed the narrative around this particular effort forever. So now that it’s not possible for it to make any permanent changes, let’s celebrate it for what it did. It served as a wake up call, for both elected officials that ignored the people and to the people themselves, that they should be better informed and get involved. Since then we now have competitive elections for most city positions. And by the results of the primaries and the amount of signatures collected for charter reform, a real mandate for change. So let’s hold the politicians at their word and work on an even better version of the charter, with possibly more professional executive management, and streamlining the system to encourage the best and brightest of us to serve. And while we’re at it, fix the antiquated “commissioner” roles and how we appoint people to the regulatory boards. Thank you to the Charter Change crew!
ReplyDeleteGreat post title
ReplyDeleteThis is all so revealing...
ReplyDelete- Not 24 hours later and a clear full-throated apology and an admission of (an honest) error.
Imagine if this was the norm in Hudson.
- One wonders how many weeks Tom DePietro and Kamal walked around knowing there is a 2nd fine print deadline somewhere in a PDF that may trip up the group. Did they also find out yesterday, or did they know all along?
But the law is the law... and good for Bob and crew for accepting it.
Let's also give a shout out to the new City Clerk and her experienced crew, dutifully doing the work as apolitical servants while political combatants (sorry, candidates) circle City Hall.
- Union Jack is right... based on votes and signatures... the citizen residents want Margaret to lead the law-making process, and they also want Charter Reform.
A sincere thank you and nod of gratitude to the work this group has done to move the conversation forward.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is the best possible outcome for Hudson. And we would not be here, were it not for the hard work of this group.
We can now begin a charter reform process together—as one city—to bring Hudson’s government into the 21st century and finally fix the planning gap.
Every candidate agrees that charter reform is a good idea. Most have also said how they would do it. Here are the choices as I see them.
1
Charter Review Commission
Both Margaret and Joe have said they would initiate a Charter Review Commission. Joe has taken the additional step of reserving a seat for a member of the Charter Change group.
But this is charter reform by political appointees. And I worry that, being political, what it produces will remain political—and will struggle to be embraced. We’re already seeing this dynamic with the Comprehensive Plan.
2
My proposal: a People’s Charter Reform through a Citizens’ Assembly
This is charter reform by the people.
This would be a Citizens’ Assembly: a group of about 30 Hudson residents, randomly selected through a civic lottery to truly reflect the diversity of our city.
Over two to three months, they meet for four to six full-day sessions. With support from trained facilitators, they learn from experts, deliberate in small and large groups, and come to a rough consensus on recommendations for a revised charter.
This is a big deal.
We’re living in a time of extreme distrust—even at the local level, where trust is usually strongest. I believe it’s our responsibility to choose methods that generate trust, not division.
We have an opportunity to do something special.
When given time, information, and support, everyday people create thoughtful solutions to difficult challenges. No rushing. No shouting. Just neighbors, working together for a stronger Hudson.
Peter
This is probably the best case scenario. The proposal was most likely not going to pass as written. What it do, was get people talking about updating the charter and help set the city on a path for needed change.
ReplyDeleteAs I have mentioned, soto voce, to leaders of the charter change movement, we already have a charter system of governance in Hudson -- a leader elected by a committee -- in Hudson. It's called the Board of Education and that BOE is tasked with running our $55m school district, including appointing a superintendent of education to run the district, who is NOT elected by the people. Our well-intentioned charter reformers should look closely at the Hudson City School District -- educationally, one of the worst school districts in the state -- and ask how successful the charter governance system works for our school children. --peter meyer
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