Helpful hints

[Edward Hahn]

If anyone could show how I can get the resident of Scottville more engaged in the meetings and any other Civic activities I would greatly appreciate it.   

[Willy]

It's going to take time to rally the troops but recording the meetings is a very good start. It's unfortunate but most people would rather sit on the couch and watch dancing with the strays instead of involving themselves with  politics, while others are quiet because they don't want to face the wrath of those in power.

[XLFD]

Propose an ordinance that negatively affects a lot of people in the pocketbook. 

The side effect is that it will make you a lot less popular. 

This is a conundrum.  You have admitted that the citizens have become a lot more involved and active at the city since you joined and have brought up issues and made city government more personal.  This is a good thing; but barring any emergency issue or obvious intent of the city council to do something costly and/or really against civil rights, you can only get so much community involvement, and it will be fairly tepid. 

I've been hoping for more citizens to become involved in Ludington, but there is both fear and apathy among the masses who aren't among the connected.  I pointed out in 2011 an unethical and illegal business transaction involving several city officials, and I was subsequently attacked by the Ludington apparatchik, they invented their own Workplace Safety Policy, invoked it on me, and I lost my job and my community standing, but eventually gained some relief from a civil suit in federal court. 

[Edward Hahn]

I don't remember what the issue was but when I brought up a issue the Mayor stated the Safety Committee will discuss the issue.  Scottville has no safety Committee.  I was the only Commissioner to realize this. 

[XLFD]

The aptly named Scottville Safety Committee is not publicly acknowledged because they do not want anybody to breach it's security.  The mayor has been subsequently punished (details of the sanction are exempt from disclosure) by the other members of the Safety Committee (names withheld for their safety) for letting their existence be known (in fact, they are unanimous in declaring that they really do not exist, and that Mayor Maki is in error, and the punishment was never meted out). 

[John Doe Jr]

Hot Dogs!

Hand them out and you will be packed.

Sanders' of course.

Then lead them to the meeting!

People come for food. Have pre-meeting food gatherings around town.

Get togethers at local restaurants or hall, which also enriches the economy.

[XLFD]

Free hot dogs aren't a bad idea, but don't forget the beverages.  If my math is correct, a commissioner gets about $75 per meeting to do their councilor duties.  If you can catch sales and get 8 hot dogs for $1, 8 hot dog buns for $1, a 2L of soda for $1, a $1 on some chips, and spend about $1 on condiments and packaging, you can feed an army of up to 80 spectators for under $50 (presuming no second helpings-- watch that Alway guy!).

The way the citizens of Scottville are being sapped by the local government, they may be very thankful for such charity; and they could be impressed that one of the commissioners is using his own money.

[Edward Hahn]

The Commissioners get paid a maximum of !7.30 per meeting.

[shinblind]

At the end of the meeting offer FREE BEER  at Charlie's Bar for everyone who attended and voiced an opinion. Stamp their hand on the way out after the meeting to keep it orderly. 

I guarantee the following meetings will be well attended  and boisterous.  

[AQUAMAN]

I think those are good ideas, but one wonders, hot dogs/beer? Organization/liability/disbursement? How about a gift certificate from a local establishment and let them spend it on their own judgment. Make it for like $10/pp, with the stipulation they get it after the meeting, and have to attend the meeting and make some voluntary influence known on their favorite subject matter. That new hamburger place would be a suggestion, great food, family atmosphere, modest prices.

[AQUAMAN]

And if you want Ludington people to support you, give them a gift cert. from the Chuckwagon Pizza, now that's going to attract a lot of people.

[XLFD]

That's not a bad idea, shinblind, but can you imagine if you gave out free beer for the masses (and free lemonade for those under 21 or teetotalers), and the council established a 'drinking game' at the beginning of the meeting.  One night it could be that everyone would need to take a drink whenever Councilor Genter considered a new issue (if there was plenty of beer to go around), another night it could be whenever an official talks of ways to reduce the budget (which would be a dry night if Commissioner Hahn was absent). 

Hot dogs and beer are more whimsical hints than helpful hints, but the people I see coming to the Ludington City Council meetings to participate are typically citizens that will be negatively affected by city policy.  If the local government is not obviously affecting you adversely somehow, they don't participate because they have better things to do than give city officials affirmation.  Likewise, criticizing city hall (even if it's spot on) is not safe, and only a small percentage take the risk to offend the councilors, who are propped up by our media, except for those councilors who dare to suggest reining in government controls.