MysteriousHedgehog23 t1_ixd63p3 wrote on November 22, 2022 at 3:39 PM

Reply to comment by areYouMenthol in Won Greenlights 3,200-Unit Astoria Development, Paving Way for Council Approval by space_______kat

Because the individual council-people, who have to answer to local voters, represent the specific and unique interests of their particular neighborhoods

Daddy_Macron t1_ixdau3c wrote on November 22, 2022 at 4:12 PM

> who have to answer to local voters

Local homeowner NIMBY's, busybodies, and Karen's mostly. The average age at local government meetings is like 70. Retired people with more free time and resources than they know what to do with.

MysteriousHedgehog23 t1_ixdbwh2 wrote on November 22, 2022 at 4:19 PM

NYC has early voting and mail-in voting so nobody has an excuse not to participate in elections, whether you can attend local community board meetings during the day or not. There are websites (Reddit, Patch News, etc) and community newspapers that tell you what’s happening in your neighborhood. No weak excuses

Daddy_Macron t1_ixdchtx wrote on November 22, 2022 at 4:23 PM

Local community meetings that set things like agenda are purposely held at inconvenient times for anyone who's not retired, stay at home, or a full-time activist. It's not easy to participate in local politics for anyone who has have a family with children, irregular or extended work hours, or doesn't have the free time to stay around in a meeting for 3+ hours.

MysteriousHedgehog23 t1_ixddu0z wrote on November 22, 2022 at 4:32 PM

When would be an ideal time? You going after work and spending your evening there? How about on Saturday morning? Be honest

Daddy_Macron t1_ixdf0k8 wrote on November 22, 2022 at 4:40 PM

How about we don't mire every local government decision in endless hours of meetings? How about the local community votes for hiring experts on relevant issues like zoning, sewage, infrastructure, and education to represent the community's interests instead of leaving it to the local retired Karen's to do it (and inefficiently at that.)

MysteriousHedgehog23 t1_ixdi5ix wrote on November 22, 2022 at 5:01 PM

Who gets to “decide” which experts to hire? Because essentially they will be able to steer any decision their way, based on who they hire. This will simply lead to accusations of backroom dealing and kickbacks.

You are naive if you think it’s that simple.

Daddy_Macron t1_ixdj55d wrote on November 22, 2022 at 5:07 PM

As opposed to our current famously transparent and non-corrupt system? Somehow cities and towns around America can hire city and town managers without issue, prosecuting and stripping licenses away from those who are found to be corrupt, but NYC is just too special to that?

Meanwhile we're the city where it costs $2,500 to plant one fucking tree, we're having a fiscal crisis despite receiving over $100 Billion in revenue every year, and we have the biggest law industry in the country cause everything that will improve the city is mired in lawsuits all the time. The current system of letting retired car salesmen and stay at home moms run local government is working great. Who needs corrupt experts and specialists? The city is easy to run.