RR Open and Responsive City Government

"A 'transparent' Rocky River city government is vital to our local democracy. Yet I feel when something is 'hidden' from citizens ... it can cost taxpayers more money ... and undermine confidence in ... and in the true purpose of Rocky River City Government." Fred I. Sokol

Rocky River

Open & Responsive City Government

Question?

Do you want your

Rocky River City Government and City Council

to operate 'in the light of public accountability'

and not operate ' in the dark of unaccountability'

where it could remain hidden

and where it can stumble? IF SO ...

RESIDENTS DESERVE ...

'OPEN-RESPONSIVE ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT! '

". . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . shall not perish from the earth."

(from) Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, given November 19, 1863 on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

FRED I. SOKOL'S
THOUGHTS ON !

" HOW AN OPEN

AND RESPONSIVE

ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT CAN BENEFIT ROCKY RIVER RESIDENTS "

______________

" We must ‘seek the light’ of public exposure

of our city council and our city government's

way of doing

the people's business."

"This will force our city's problems be solved through public scrutiny."

"This will guarantee that our city runs well in the future."

"Our city council and city government

must operate 'in the light of public accountability'

not operate 'in the dark of unaccountability'

to remain hidden

- where it can stumble.

" Let us ‘seek the light’ of public accountability

of our city council and our city government's

way of doing the people's business,

and seek correction of anything that is

not working well.

This will guarantee that our city runs well in the future.

Fellow residents,

do not let our council

and city government

operate in the dark of unaccountability

- where it can stumble.

______________

WHY DO WE NEED

AN OPEN & RESPONSIVE

ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT

and TOWN HALL MEETINGS ?

1.   River citizens must have a voice!!!   Why?

2.   Rocky River City Hall is the “only voice” on how our taxes are spent, how our streets are policed and how our neighborhoods are redeveloped.

3. River government taxes/spends, millions of our tax dollars meant for us and family to spend. They can rezone residential neighborhoods to a shopping center. They proposed a regional minimum security jail in a residential/business area in 1993.

4. Council writes, passes and ‘enforces laws’ that exert tremendous power over our lives.

5.   For 43 years Rocky River City Hall has told us what is best for us and to shut up. They dominated /imposed a stiff "their-ocracy" on us.

6.   Rocky River City Hall wanted a regional jail, a bloated tax/spend city government. They restrict our liberty, privacy, property, expand powerful city government and ignore us.

7.   Citizens and City Officials must discuss/ decide ‘city matters’ at (2) Town Hall meetings in each of Rocky River’s (4) wards annually.

8.   "Only a true 'Open and Responsive' Rocky River Government can successfully deal with Rocky River's economic/neighborhood stability and betterment that benefits citizens and businesses."

9.   Yet, in 1996 River taxpayers voted unofficially 6,384 to 4,331 to defeat a new Rocky River court building.



10.   Yet City Hall built a multimillion dollar court, memorial hall and rec center with taxpayers money and without taxpayers’ vote.



11.   Decentralize city hall decisions. Give ward council members their own funded capital improvement program. So council members can propose what’s best for their ward.



12.   Then inform ward residents how city hall proposals will affect their homes and neighborhood.   Then carry out what citizens approve.



13.    Don’t decide Rocky River matters from city hall’s steeple ...

... but from amid the neighborhoods

and the people! "

Fred I. Sokol

Speaks Up For:

An Open & Responsive

Rocky River

City Government.

“Open and Free debate will stop city councils’

law making monopoly.

Our powerful city government

will stay checked

and accountable.”

my quote given:

@ (Rocky River City Council 10-28-2002)

WHAT AN 'OPEN AND RESPONSIVE'

ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT

CAN BE LIKE! (AN EDITORIAL)

1) Resident's are to be informed and educated on what is going on at Rocky River City Hall, with town hall meetings for residents.

2) Rocky River Government is to give a "finance report" at all City Council Meetings. Citizens are to be informed of Rocky River Government's present income, spending and balance ... clearly stated to taxpayers.

3) Resident's are to be told of existing and potential problems in Rocky River and their potential solutions. Such as ... " Is Rocky River Government presently in a financial deficit or surplus? "

4) Resident's are to be given respect and a direct forum to speak on local issues and concerns.

5) City Council is to have regularly scheduled Council Meetings in area neighborhoods, as well as at City Hall. This is meant to be a 'non threatening forum' that can help residents meet and offer ideas to our city government officials, so these ideas can be acted on.

6) City Council Meetings are to have regularly scheduled speakers to educate residents of important local issues.

7) "All" elected Rocky River official's are to assist all Rocky River citizen’s concerns and questions.

8) “Automatic Decision Power" is to be given to Rocky River citizens on City Hall proposals that directly affect those citizens' homes and neighborhoods.

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