Mayor Cory Booker article- Listen Waco

Here is an example of leadership in a mayoral fashion from our friends to the north. Waco can take some notes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lanny-davis/the-purple-leadership-of_b_180795.html

I have longed to see viable changes and recognizable investments in greater Waco across the board, but not such visions or visionary leadership has emerged that impacts under served communities. We have a green Chamber staffed in leadership areas by a few from other parts of the country, not locals. What this translates into is an understanding about Wacoans that may be narrowly restricted to those who have and not so much those who have not.

The 2000 Census showed that the median income for a household in the city of Waco is $26,264, and the median income for a family is $33,919. Males have a median income of $26,902 versus $21,159 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,584. 26.3% of the population and 19.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 30.9% of those under the age of 18 and 13.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Recent statistics have shown a dramatic shift, but just use these stats for now... If an average household of three is 30,000 dollars annually and $27, 465 is the national average for families of 3 considered low income level, then Waco has a little work it can do.

I consider Waco to be the dog riddled with mange. There are pockets of visual improvement where ointment (funding) has been applied, but lots of areas of blight, and little opportunity from many. When Jack-of-all-Trades becomes one of the leading employment outlets, we have a problem. When Title Loan Company are popping up all over town, we have a problem. When more citizens are using quick cash places than banks and savings and loans, we have a problem. Clearly an educated, well-employed, and socially adept community would not and should not have all these signs of illegitimacy around it.

There are organizations attempting to create improved lifestyles such as CDC (Waco Community Development) and Mission Waco-, one has a great aesthetic approach, the other not so much. One draws from within, while the other seems to draw outsiders to it. However, diversity of employment, training opportunities, and outreach is often "out of the reach" of those who could benefit most.

Many other organizations are attempting to affect change in Waco; however, without a focused community effort, the city will continue to shift its borders south and west, leaving many of its indigenous people wallowing in the mange of poverty and lack as access. Citizens who have inclusive visions should step up soon before we continue to slid further and further into a divided, class-conscious "Greater Waco".

March 22nd World Water Day

World Water Day is today. I didn't know this day existed, but lo it is here! Citizens, as much as I complain about my hometown water, we are in much better shape than some. We all can have better and do better, though.

Refreshing My Memory of Congress

Wikipedia is one of my favorite online resources for quick insight into a topic. I went online last night to read up on Congress. Citizens, we must never lose sight of who is responsible for what and how our government works. If you don't readily know what is going on, look it up. Here is what I found... to somewhat simplify it.

"The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election.

Each of the 435 members of the House of Representatives represents a district and serves a two-year term. House seats are apportioned among the states by population. The 100 Senators serve staggered six-year terms. Each state has two senators, regardless of population. Every two years, approximately one-third of the Senate is elected.

Article I of the Constitution vests all legislative power in the Congress. (Read sections 7 and 8 in the Article I for more interesting information). The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process (legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers); however, the Constitution grants each chamber some unique powers.

The Senate is uniquely empowered to ratify treaties and to approve top presidential appointments. Revenue-raising bills must originate in the House of Representatives, which also has the sole power of impeachment, while the Senate has the sole power to try impeachment cases."

So citizens, why are our legislators in the house not focused on doing what they are tasked to do instead of offering critiques? How does an artist not from his or her heart create art? How does a member of the house of representatives not originate revenue-raising bills? Is it not something explicitedly stated as a large part of the "job?"

Carry on good citizens.

Shifting Winds with Iraq Reporting on ABC

Reporter's Notebook By TERRY MCCARTHYBAGHDAD, Iraq, March 16, 2009

Tonight ABC World News with Charles Gibson aired, "Iraq: Country Headed in New Direction." I was astonished by the reporting of how life has changed in Iraq, and how a reporter has framed the shift in societal calmness. It seems that I have been bombarded with images of how there is immense trouble in the region. I have watched in the past the reports of deaths of Americans and civilians, or I have read about it daily, but now, as if on a dime, there are citizens/reporters re-framing the view of Iraq's conditions.

Is it that these new changes in "visual propaganda" have been mandated from some persons in positions of higher powers? Is it indeed being done in order to send different messages that are quite stunning compared to the coverage during the Bush Administration? These are the sudden shifts that don't bring me much hope, but instead make me more suspicious of my fellow citizens. How much more politics are we to stand for?