| Incumbent Chicago Alderman Joe Moore almost lost his last election. It was likely a huge wake up call. Afterwards he replaced some key people in his organization. In a sign that he is neither backing off of his progressive positions nor is he ignoring his near loss, he is bringing a populist and radical democratic process to his one million dollar menu budget called "Participatory Budgeting." Already the process has engaged the so-called "Peoples Republic of Rogers Park" in six of eight planned initial neighborhood assemblies. From these assemblies representatives are being elected. These representatives will meet and hone the brain-stormed ideas from the assemblies and if necessary call additional assemblies for further refinement. The process will culminate in the spring with a ward-wide assembly meeting to make the final decisions for the 2010 menu money. To see where the money can be spent and where it cannot be spent, as well as where previous year's spending went see that web link you just passed. One of my first reactions is that they should have some kind of page recording the process as it goes along. Well they are doing that right here. Even though I'm in the next ward south (48), the 49th ward does touch my precinct so it's my plan to go tomorrow night and report back here. I actually have concerns about what happens in my neighborhood that straddles the two wards. The 48th ward has actually had a pretty good process used by the alderman, Mary Ann Smith, to manage where money goes. She has representatives of various ward organizations, block clubs and the Chamber of Commerce meet regularly to discuss and vote on various issues within the ward. But her process still contains elements that lack transparency. Democracy is hard and Joe is likely in for quite a ride. But if he is able to stick to it I predict that his next election will be nowhere near as close as his last. |
