Working on our project for the Councilmember's office has been an amazing experience so far. While conducting the research and interviews over the phone have provided us with interesting information, my favorite parts of this project are those where we interacted with true New Orleanians first-hand. Of all the meetings Emma and I had in our short visit to the city, I enjoyed the initial meeting with Councilmember Palmer and her team the most. This meeting, while only about an hour long, gave me incredible insight into a few components of work in politics.
When Councilmember Palmer showed up in running clothes and out of breath, it was a reminder that politicians are still people; they live their own lives and have their own priorities to consider. I think that too often Americans lose sight of that fact and expect their city councilor or their senator to do exactly what they want, when they want. It was refreshing to see the Councilmember crack jokes and be a "real person," not just a robotic figurehead spouting stump speeches and talking points.
Another aspect of the job that I noticed was that the campaign is never over. Even if you've won the election, you have to ensure sure that your constituents are continuously happy and that you're holding on to their votes. Tia struck up a conversation with a few different people in the course of our meeting, and each time she made sure to listen to what they thought about Algiers and the current state of the city. Her job is to make sure that the community feels heard and included, and that doesn't stop once the votes are in.
The final realization I had didn't hit me fully until after speaking with Jeff Schwartz at the alumni dinner party. He warned Emma and I about the potential dangers of approaching the community with open-ended questions, since the average person may not know what is feasible and what is not. While at the coffeeshop with Tia, an Algiers resident suggested making a section of New Orleans (I forget which neighborhood) pedestrian-only and outlawing all car traffic. I have little knowledge of these things, but I would assume that the process of such a transition is not an easy one. From the look on Tia's face, it didn't seem like the suggestion was high on the Councilmember's priority list; but regardless, she sat there and listened to the man. That is her job year round.
These small examples of politicking gave me a really interesting background on what the interface between political organizations and everyday citizens can be like. I'm glad that not only am I getting planning experience through this project, but also an inside look at what it can be like working in local government.
When Councilmember Palmer showed up in running clothes and out of breath, it was a reminder that politicians are still people; they live their own lives and have their own priorities to consider. I think that too often Americans lose sight of that fact and expect their city councilor or their senator to do exactly what they want, when they want. It was refreshing to see the Councilmember crack jokes and be a "real person," not just a robotic figurehead spouting stump speeches and talking points.
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| Sasha and Malia Obama, being normal teenagers (Us Magazine, 1/22/2013). |
The final realization I had didn't hit me fully until after speaking with Jeff Schwartz at the alumni dinner party. He warned Emma and I about the potential dangers of approaching the community with open-ended questions, since the average person may not know what is feasible and what is not. While at the coffeeshop with Tia, an Algiers resident suggested making a section of New Orleans (I forget which neighborhood) pedestrian-only and outlawing all car traffic. I have little knowledge of these things, but I would assume that the process of such a transition is not an easy one. From the look on Tia's face, it didn't seem like the suggestion was high on the Councilmember's priority list; but regardless, she sat there and listened to the man. That is her job year round.
These small examples of politicking gave me a really interesting background on what the interface between political organizations and everyday citizens can be like. I'm glad that not only am I getting planning experience through this project, but also an inside look at what it can be like working in local government.
Paula,
ReplyDeleteInteresting reflection. What do you think is the balance between not asking the community open-ended question and giving residents the right information so they can give constructive input? I think this is something that planners always have a hard time with, so ti is good you are already thinking about this issue early in your career.
Srav