Here’s more proof that engaged citizens can — and DO — make a huge difference in Michigan communities…
For months, a diverse and committed bunch of idealists — many of them young professionals — gathered in taverns and restaurants across Detroit to noodle a big problem that’s gone unsolved for decades…
Because the Detroit City Council are elected at large, huge swaths of Detroit have gone completely unrepresented for decades as council members have tended to reside in a few select neighborhoods.
Compare that to Chicago’s hyperactive ward system — where political lives are won and lost based on the ability to get things done block by block — and it’s easy to see why sections of the Detroit have become completely abandoned while other parts have either survived or thrived.
Well, this week, those idealistic Detroiters are celebrating on their Facebook page: “Detroiters for City Council by District.”
By sheer will and shoe leather, this group convinced Detroit voters to take matters into their own hands. They gathered 30,000 signatures (in an era when political consultants claim it is impossible to do so without hired help). They overcame nay-saying city hall bureaucrats who continue to throw up legal challenges.
As long as the group can continue to overcome potential legal opposition, Detroit’s next city council, elected in 2013, will include clear representatives from seven clear districts.
So, a HUGE congratulations this week to these inspired Detroiters and their Facebook power.
And, oh, by the way, the Center’s Facebook page, complete with this week’s full newsletter and fresh photos is here. Help us double our fan base for the third week in a row!
As a result,
