From the UEDA Summit

At the Urban Economic Development Association's 7th Annual Community Development Summit, a citizen asked: Should we consider changes in SEWRPC and RTA governance?

A panelist, sounding a bit like talk radio hosts lecturing that politically incorrect caller they so love to skewer, used the moment to respond to a question no one asked.

The other panel members sat in stoned (stunned?) silence after the Panelist's unfortunate personal attack on the citizen.

What a sight.

Well and good that "Cooperation" was the word of the day.

And Cooperation should at least mean taking a question at face value, or taking a clumsy citizen question (like they do on Wisconsin Public Radio) and making it a question that any panel member can understand. That is grace; that is cooperation.

So, what did this benighted citizen ask of the esteemed panel?

Mr. Citizen asked about governance – pointing out how our two transit-planning bodies do not have elected representation, he asked if they might.

Earlier, Robert Liberty (from Portland's Metro) told his audience that it was a faith in and a practice of democracy that drove the agenda of their modern transportation system. Referenda and elections.

Portland Metro has a governance that Milwaukee could study. We have a planning culture whose representation of SE Wisconsin could use a look-see by all thoughtful leaders who believe in Cooperation. The panel's dead silence should not be the last word on this subject.

Were there answers, suggestions, guidelines at the UEDA conference?

Yes. Many – but another day, another blog – my bus is coming; I gotta go.

Bill Sell