Thomas Christy

What makes Niagara Falls the special place it is.  That’s the secret question.  The answer so obviously close in front of us that it’s maddingly difficult to get a focus.  All of us are smarter than any of us – and all of us have an answer, but none of us have the answer. That’s … Read more

When cities become poor by spending more than they raise talk turns to the need for a control board.  The talk is mostly on radio and in coffee shops.  It never really gains traction with the decision makers in government. If it’s ever talked about seriously within government it’s because it’s an option, albeit a … Read more

Civics is often bent to the will of the user.  Like the constitution, like the Bible, like justice and the law, civics is applied by those that practice it.  It’s a user guide more than stone tablets. We don’t all see the same thing, hear the same thing, dream of the same end result.  This … Read more

An integral part of civics is personal interaction.  Talking with people about the community, not being shy about your views, listening to other people’s views and looking at things from every angle, always with the greater good in mind.  Sadly, that’s about as outdated as John Locke’s writings on civics in the 1600’s.  We don’t … Read more

The important thing about civics is that it is all-encompassing. Every municipality has varied components. Service some and ignore others like a giant chemistry experiment.  Actions have consequences. These are the components of a civics discussion. “I was moving some things around in my home the other day and I moved a box, and on … Read more

In civics, or business or life, everything starts with money.  If you have none, zero is still a number, and you work with it.  When it’s roughly $85 million over twelve months, that’s a different number.  When it’s $85 million, but you want to spend $100 million, then you have even more challenges. Tuesday night … Read more

The simplest things can be the hardest to master.  Civics is such a thing. But I never really understood how complicated a topic civics could be until The Civics Project got off the ground.  And the community hasn’t realized how difficult this topic is because no one has ever undertaken a micro view of civics-in-action … Read more

Money – or resources if you prefer a sanitary term – is the foundation of society. Whether its how you run your home or how you run your city, the acquisition and distribution of money are some of the most important decisions made.  Upon those decisions rests comfort or despair.  I’m not telling you anything … Read more

There are so many smart people among us. If you have a question there’s an answer one or two connections away.  Someone knows someone and is very happy to introduce you. Asking the right questions then becomes the issue. After four weeks of feedback to this column it might be helpful to revisit the focus … Read more

The most visible night in civics is over and the 364 other days of civics continue.  Election night is the oscars; civics is the other days when the work takes place.  Just like we need the oscar awards to promote the industry, we need election night to remind the populace that people star in government … Read more