According to the City of Columbus’ interim COO, the city’s dysfunction is driven by reactive policies and past attitudes that are bogging down the new administration’s goals. But you can help!
How to Be A Good Citizen: Did you know, the mayor and council were not elected to address potholes, barking dogs, and lights not working? In the past, the “start at the top mentality” was encouraged, received a better response, and, in turn, generated more calls. That’s how dysfunctional cities work (or fail).
In thriving cities, citizens and elected officials understand that city employees are tasked with handling day-to-day city issues. The mayor/COO is tasked with ensuring action is taken by employees in a timely manner. The council ensures management is performing according to plan. The mayor and council were elected for important tasks, such as implementing a strategic plan, demonstrating fiscal responsibility, and ensuring operational accountability to make Columbus a better place to live, today and in the future.
Citizens should start with the SeeClickFix app for issues they want addressed. In the past, there was a mayor and council that asked the citizens to call them with mundane problems. While that made it appear that those elected officials cared about their positions, it actually meant that those people did not understand the real functions of the positions. The excessive involvement of the elected officials in the day-to-day business of the city insults the dignity of the hired department managers and is an abuse of power. There may well be department managers who were hired/promoted beyond their abilities, and, in those instances, it is correct for the COO to get involved. Likewise, the department managers should not feel that city employees who may have been hired into the department due to the influence of a mayor or council members should receive any special treatment. Accountability and following the proper chain of command will allow the government to work.
When you have a good idea how to make Columbus better, please do present those ideas to the mayor and council members, but also to the relevant department manager. The department managers may be in a better position to develop the ideas further for presentation to the mayor and council. Remember, a problem without a solution is only complaining. Be part of the solution, be a part of A Better Columbus.
Successful and thriving cities depend on active, responsive, and well-informed citizens.
