It was a big thrill today to spy a communication from Sean Meyer, an intrepid reporter, who tweeted the following:
“City asking public to submit their ideas around economic prosperity by this June. Submit online at http://www.prosperityforlondon.ca.@LCNews1 #LdnOnt”
‘Citizen input being solicited in order to shape our own collective futures? Great!!’, I thought.
So I visited the web-link provided to look for more information…and took up the generous offer on the website to ‘e-mail us’ in order to seek further clarification on matters.
Here’s how it went.
“Hello,
The London Prosperity website indicates in part:
“Over the coming months, we’re asking for your help to determine which projects have the most potential to positively impact our economy.”
Could you please clarify whether the community is being asked to offer up ideas for consideration or select from a list of projects already picked by some unexplained process at City Hall?
Any clarification you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Oliver Hobson.”
The speed of the response was nothing short of amazing.
Greased lightening had nothing on it.
It was as if the heavens had finally parted with angels heralding a new era of efficiency, transparency and accountability in the realm of civic governance.
The response read:
“Thank you for sending us your idea or proposal on how we can ReThink how we create jobs and accelerate our economy. City Council members will be viewing every idea and proposals over the coming months and are looking forward to working with our community to create new opportunities for growth and jobs.”
Hang on a minute!
I didn’t send a “…proposal on how we can ReThink how we create jobs and accelerate our economy” as it wasn’t clear to me what my role as an engaged citizen would be.
Not wanting to keep the automated correspondent waiting:
“So let me get this straight then…I am writing to an automated response…rather than a real person…and the people that will be reviewing any suggestions put forward by the public will be members of city council who have not, as yet, been identified?
Proposals made in public session so members of the public can ascertain what’s going on and what’s not going on would at least lend some transparency to this process.
What say you…automated response?
Kind regards,
Oliver Hobson”
You can imagine the rest.
Update: Kindly provided by a valiant soul who has been fighting PR fires in the City of London since December 1st 2010.
“Thanks for emailing us – we’re looking for both in fact. We’re asking the public to submit any ideas or proposals to us during the next 3 weeks – any idea you may have that you feel would help to kick start our economy, create jobs and/or fuel a transformation in our economy. The deadline for submission of ideas is June 1. The public will also have an opportunity to learn more about the projects on June 9, when the committee will be inviting people to make presentations on their proposals – we’re hoping to schedule as many people as possible, depending on how many ideas and proposals are received. We’ll also be asking the public for feedback on some of the ideas already on the table – the downtown campus for Western, the downtown vision as outlined by the Planning Division earlier this year, as well as other projects. This opportunity will happen during some of the June sessions we’re attending as part of ReThink.
In answer to your other question, the members of the committee working on the Prosperity Plan are Joe Swan, Matt Brown, Denise Brown, Dale Henderson, Stephen Orser, Bud Polhill and Paul Van Meerbergen. The agenda from today’s meeting is online: http://sire.london.ca/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=275&doctype=AGENDA”
The City of London’s Corporate Communications Department can also be found on ‘Youtube’. http://www.youtube.com/user/LondonComms/feed
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