See: OaklandNews: An open letter to Jean Quan I really miss Jeannette Sherwin's candor, regardless of who it was aimed at. In this case, it was in an "Open Letter To Jean Quan" that bears repeating because Councilmember Quan thinks she's going to be Oakland's next Mayor and because what Ms. Sherwin wrote below still applies today, unfortunately. I think Councilmember Quan would do well to follow what's written here:
“Dear Jean,
If you want truly fair and democratic processes, and if you want to feel less defensive, then you might do these things:
An Open Letter to Jean Quan
1) Don't make up your mind in advance about development in your district, such as a replacement for the Hillcrest Motel. Residents have very, very good instincts and ideas about what they want and what will work Trust your constituents.
2) Don't take credit for things you haven't done. It pisses the real workers off.
3) Stop talking.
4) Listen.
5) Demand that the city council return to meetings every Tuesday so that the
public has a fighting chance to attend the meetings and stay awake long
enough for their items to be heard.
6) Stop balancing the city budget with new taxes. Sewers, libraries, police and fire are all basic city services which should come from the General Fund, not from new taxes -- and that includes maintaining buildings, instead of letting them decay.
7) Admit when you are wrong. The first 12,783 times are difficult, but after that it gets easier -- I know.
Sincerely,
Jeannette Sherwin
Editor
OaklandNews.com”
“Dear Jean,
If you want truly fair and democratic processes, and if you want to feel less defensive, then you might do these things:
An Open Letter to Jean Quan
1) Don't make up your mind in advance about development in your district, such as a replacement for the Hillcrest Motel. Residents have very, very good instincts and ideas about what they want and what will work Trust your constituents.
2) Don't take credit for things you haven't done. It pisses the real workers off.
3) Stop talking.
4) Listen.
5) Demand that the city council return to meetings every Tuesday so that the
public has a fighting chance to attend the meetings and stay awake long
enough for their items to be heard.
6) Stop balancing the city budget with new taxes. Sewers, libraries, police and fire are all basic city services which should come from the General Fund, not from new taxes -- and that includes maintaining buildings, instead of letting them decay.
7) Admit when you are wrong. The first 12,783 times are difficult, but after that it gets easier -- I know.
Sincerely,
Jeannette Sherwin
Editor
OaklandNews.com”
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