City Matters: Budget cuts refocus community involvement
By Dave Felice
Community development specialist T. Michael Smith says early involvement by ordinary citizens is critical as governments continue to face financial hardships.
Smith rejects the notion that “community is in decline,” and believes “things are not going to get a whole lot better” as budget cuts impact services. One result, says Smith, is a return to community self-help.
Smith is a long-time Park Hill resident and neighborhood advocate. He was the keynote speaker at the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) Citywide Neighborhood Conference this October, an annual event held in cooperation with city government.
Smith co-founded INC in the late 1960s, when he and other community representatives recognized a lack of timely information about city decisions.
INC is a member consortium of over half of the city’s 200 Registered Neighborhood Organizations. Its mission is to advocate for citizens by“bringing together, informing and empowering Denver neighborhood organizations to actively engage in addressing City issues.”
Smith said early engagement in government affairs can reduce conflicts and mistrust. “If you don’t involve those impacted up front, project time can double, and cost millions more.”
Citing the controversy over a proposed large-scale retail store at 9th and Colorado Boulevard, Smith said, “the quickest way to get people involved is a crisis.”
“So much of this is basic communications,” said Smith. “If (government leaders) don’t fully communicate, people fill in the blanks and you have misunderstanding.”
Smith also says people need connectivity. “When people work together, they know each other and achieve success. Just asking ‘can you help me’ is one of the best ways to get people involved. A sense of achievement helps people stay connected.”
In a panel discussion following Smith’s speech, INC President Larry Ambrose said the city often overlooks inspiration from the community. “If the city were to view neighborhoods as focus groups, we could save money and have better outcomes.”
Dr. Stephen Griffin of University of Denver said representative democracy produces city personnel who consider themselves “best qualified to make decisions and see the public as a bother.” Mayoral aide Derek Okubo acknowledged that “sometimes the city’s role has to shift from leadership to facilitator.”
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The city’s lack of vision about a permanent festival facility comes up again with recent corporate takeovers in public parks.
In September, the USA Pro Challenge bicycle race staged the city’s first admission-based event by reserving part of Civic Center Park to paying spectators. Street closures snarled traffic and frustrated motorists. In October, Chipotle Mexican Grill took over a large section of City Park for a free, but commercial event promoting “Food with Integrity.” Just days earlier, Chipotle ended years of resistance and signed the Fair Food Agreement to pay living wages to farmworkers who harvest tomatoes.
Even though the late City Councilwoman Carla Madison thought festival activities should be spread around the city, most events are held at Civic Center and City Park. Policy allows the sale of alcoholic beverages at those locations. By contrast, fewer events are at Washington Park because it is not a festival site and alcoholic beverage sales are not allowed.
Short-term liquor licenses and permit fees for commercial events are only a pittance of what the land use is worth and the city does not make significant revenue from such events.
When the city developed a festival events policy, many park advocates (including me) proposed a permanent site which could pay for itself. A festival facility would be an appropriate location for these commercial events and a “better outcome” of which INC leader Larry Ambrose speaks.