Last week, I wrote a blog about how far Delray Beach has strayed since the days when Florida Trend referred to the city as the best run town in Florida.
I received a tremendous response indicating that the piece struck a nerve.
That was the intent; with an admonition for citizens to get involved. We can and must do better.
But while the piece was mostly “diagnostic” outlining where we’ve gone off track, one gentleman wrote to me and asked for solutions.
I don’t claim to have all or even some of the answers. Nobody does. The whole point is for citizens to get involved because I believe that the more stakeholders are at the table the better we are as a community.
But aside from involvement and voting (too few of us do) here are a few thoughts on how we can fix what’s ailing us.
Unfortunately many of these ideas are hard to accomplish during a pandemic but we can surely lay the groundwork now for a civic comeback later.
I’m limiting my list to community unity concepts because we have to repair the civic fabric before we can heal and move forward.
There are a slew of other things we will need to do to rebuild the economy but for now let’s concentrate on unifying the community.
Here are a few ideas:
Get back to citizen driven planning and visioning. —Delray was built on grass roots involvement in crafting a vision for the future. We haven’t had a large scale all hands on deck planning and visioning exercise in many years. It’s time to invite citizens to the table to talk about our future. Nature abhors a vacuum and in the absence of a vision we have invited petty politics to take over. It’s time for a new vision that includes everyone. You know you’ve gone wrong when commissioners focus on each other and not the vision. In the absence of a vision it’s inevitable.
Restore civic education—Delray was once known for its efforts to engage the community through efforts such as the Residents Academy, Youth Council, Elder Ready Task Force and Police Academy. These efforts enabled citizens to learn about their city and to volunteer for boards etc. It was invaluable. A great way to connect people to their hometown.
Bring back community dinners—The Commission I served on created Community Dinners where we invited diverse neighborhoods to gather at Old School Square for a potluck dinner and fellowship. Commissioners and senior city staff attended and facilitated conversations covering topics of concern to the neighborhoods. The low cost, high impact events built relationships and bridged divides. Those evenings were magical.
Emphasize commission goal setting—When your commission is split it’s important to find common ground, areas where everyone can agree. Once those goals are set, it enables city staff to get to work and get things done. If goals are achieved, commissioners succeed. So even if you have a commission that doesn’t get along you are guaranteed to get some things done.
Dust off plans that have been shelved— Adopt and implement the Set Transformation Plan, Congress Avenue Plan and US 1 overlay. We spent taxpayer money and citizen time to create these plans. They are good plans and we need to get moving again. When citizens volunteer only to see their work ignored, cities pay a high price. People stop caring. Consequently, when they see plans implemented they take pride in their work and their towns.
Recommit to key civic projects— It seems like every year, Old School Square and other important civic projects have to fight for their survival. We need to commit to these endeavors which sends a message to volunteers and donors that the city is firmly behind these projects. That doesn’t mean that Old School Square and the Arts Garage etc., are above accountability. They need to perform. But it does mean they can rely on the city as a trusted partner. City Hall needs to be viewed as an ally not a critic. And if criticism is warranted, then it should be constructive.
Celebrate success—In days gone by, when goals were reached we threw a party. Yes sometimes it was goofy but it also builds morale and civic pride. We will all need a party when the pandemic eases.
Restore trust—Sure that’s easier said than done. But it takes time, patience and performance. There was a time when local governments nationwide were the most trusted form of government. People trust leaders when they are accessible, transparent and when they deliver on promises and own up to mistakes.
Show support for city workers—Public and private praise goes a long way. We have many dedicated public servants. It’s important to appreciate their contributions.
—Honor the past, encourage the future. -This City has been blessed with a slew of amazing people. We should reach out to remember and honor them. We should also scan the landscape for new and emerging civic talent and take the time to encourage them. It doesn’t cost money. But the return is invaluable.
Call out the civic bullies—Recently, the city commission did a great thing by calling out someone who stepped out of bounds on social media. It was a bold and needed correction. We need to insist on civility and have the courage to stand up to those who cross the line. It’s ok to passionately argue for issues that we care about. It is not ok to get personal or go after family members or the livelihoods of elected officials.
Identify a Big, Audacious Goal and Get it Done—Civic projects that involve the community can be bonding experiences. In the past we have created goals for culture, the downtown, education and neighborhoods. All of these efforts brought people together. We can sure use another effort we can sink our teeth into. Suggestions? How about the Old School Square Park? The parks bond was passed 15 years ago. It’s time to create a sensational public space and create a process that invites the community to get involved.
These are just a few ideas.
But the number one solution is to stay informed and get involved. Delray needs you.
