Be a drop in the bucket

It has been about a year and a half since I made Raleigh my home. I have observed local politics and issues with interest, especially concerning dowtown revitalization and the rapid growth throughout the county. What has absolutely blown my mind are the decisions that have been made that contradict the plans agreed upon for smart growth. Even more nauseating is the blatant truth that those who reap the benefits of many a City Council vote have not been the people of this city, but the developers and others who have the deepest pockets. See a recent example of this here

It is a shame that so many people that I have come into contact with see what is going on, but don't speak up. Because of this, I have decided to set an example for my peers and get involved.

I am, by nature, a joiner. I have always enjoyed being involved in various activities and groups, and I have often taken an active role in decision-making organizations that have an impact on my life. You see, like many people, I have strong opinions about the things that are going on around me...but I can't stand to just let things go on around me. The beautiful thing about our society is that it is supposed to be for the people, by the people. The unfortunate thing is that not enough people participate in the decision making process - from the easiest end of the spectrum, which is simply casting a vote...to the toughest, by challenging the status quo and unseating public officials who don't represent our interests.

In time, I plan to do both. Here is where I am starting:

• I have (just today!) joined my neighborhood's Citizen Advisory Council email group. Every area in the city has a Citizen Advisory Council. Each council, made up of volunteer officers meets periodically to discuss issues concerning their specific area, such as zoning proposals, new development, and safety. These meetings are open to members of the community who want to get involved - like me! The volunteer chairs of the council then take any concerns or suggestions from the group to the City Council, Planning Commission, or other relevant committee.
  For more information, and to find out which council your neighborhood belongs to, please visit this link
  If you would like to visit the website of my neighborhood's council, here it is!
  
• I have also recently gotten involved with a brand new good government group called Wake Up. The purpose of this group is to have an organization responsible for paying attention to what our elected officials are up to, and to have a strong voice with which to influence those officials. The focus of Wake Up is smart growth. We have just had our first meeting, and have not established a website, but the link
  here is an article written by one of the organizers. Hopefully enough people will take an interest in what is happening in this rapidly growing city to get a handle on it before things go haywire. All it will take is for individuals to start speaking up, one by one, until we are heard. Don't let someone else make these important decisions for you!