(This post also appeared in the Benicia Herald Opinion column, 1/4/2011)
“The city sure has been taking a beating,” a merchant told me last week in front of his shop. I couldn’t agree more. His comment was referring to the letters, columns and blogs with constructive — and some not so constructive — opinions about how to run the city.
This column is about where we — the city of Benicia, its staff, commissioners and Council members — have been and where we are going. Readers are welcome to respond on my blog (www.elizabethpatterson.blogspot.com), in the Benicia Herald, or during my open office hours.
They may also attend the workshops, study sessions and Council meetings we will conduct in 2011. Last year we held more than 30, posted surveys, and ran community open houses. This coming year I invite those who write letters, columns and blogs, as well as residents who read them or not, to participate in the extensive city outreach effort to: a) access and vet information; b) explore volunteer opportunities; and c) consider more new and untried budget solutions. Your participation is vital for the important decisions that will be made for our city in 2011.
Earlier this year, I affirmed at Council meetings that “we are all in this boat together” as we enter the third year of the Great Recession. The country’s financial meltdown is the result of many factors, but especially the reckless risk-taking by financial institutions, the ripple effect of which affected our neighborhoods, jobs, available funds for small businesses — and public anger.
