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 Sadly, that’s about as outdated as John Locke’s writings on civics in the 1600’s. We don’t talk, we listen even less, and contemplating another view and changing your mind on anything is akin to being a socialist.
This column got it’s largest – and most passionate – response to the mention of the city master plan. In an article three weeks ago I highlighted the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Niagara Falls, USA, praised it’s depth and breath, and spoke glowingly of planning in general. Little did I know how many other people have read the plan, embraced the plan, and are angry it’s not referred to more often as a guiding document. But mostly, people took offense to my saying that planning was essential. People have had it up to here with planning, and want action and consistency.
You can tell good friends from mere acquaintances by the level of honesty they show towards you.
“I disagree with the suggestion in your article that more planning is needed in Niagara Falls. What is needed in Niagara Falls is action and I fear you gave people an excuse to delay acting. The last thing we need is more excuses. Niagara Falls does not need a brand new master plan. The current plan, although published ten years ago, is based on forty years of research and planning, most of which came to the exact same conclusions. The current plan can benefit from updates and tweaking, but now is the time for action, not more planning or delay. Also, significant amounts of money were spent on these plans. Any money spent on more planning – at this point, in this city – is money that should be spent implementing.”
That was Roberta O’Toole. Born in Niagara Falls and tempered by 45 years of public service, private practice and a Harvard Law degree. She called me and criticized my loose language – lawyers tend to be particular about language. She wasn’t saying that the plan didn’t need tweaking, discussion and focus, just that we can’t tolerate ignoring professional advice any longer and that now is the time for action, to implement plans that have been developed over years.
“If we made the planning document a governing document, then outside investors, developers and entrepreneurs in general would have a window into the future of the Falls and could plan and invest accordingly. Without using the plan as a governing document investors are subject to whipsaw decisions by local and state government, uncertainty and feeling double crossed. It’s an investing maxim: money follows certainty. People like to say they take risks, but for the most part, certainty wins out. Maybe the reason vast areas of Niagara Falls are undeveloped and vacant is uncertainty. And worst of all, if someone announces and funds a new master plan that decision will hit the pause button on private development for years. Maybe government will have the upper hand in that scenario, but overall it’s just an unnecessary waste of time.”
It seems government is exceedingly involved in development these days. Is that a positive trend?
“There’s a lot of mistrust about government in general these days. It’s not an uncommon feeling on the street that some version of the deep state is alive and well and living in Niagara Falls. If you have a written plan, but completely ignore it, is that because the mystical powers that be want to control things? And does announcing and funding a new master plan initiative mask that feeling of a deep state mentality? That’s how people think sometimes. I’m not sure I agree, but there is a logic to it.”
As we provide structure to this study of civics-in-action it’s becoming exceedingly clear from people throughout the community that the current master plan provides the focol point for action. I don’t enjoy criticism any more than anyone else. But I thank people like Roberta and others who share their knowledge, experience, honesty and passion for this city. All of us are smarter than any of us.
Finally, I want to point out something we should seriously note. Civics is about the entire community, and this is maybe the most important civics highlight in a long time. Niagara Falls did not make national news this week for the killing of a citizen. Police DID NOT open fire on a man who apparently pointed a rifle at them. The news reported on Tuesday that a man on Woodlawn Avenue took a rifle from his car and pointed it at two police officers. They disarmed the situation without violence. The police did not shoot the man dead. We are not reading about body cams which were not turned on. There is not a video of a man gasping for air saying “I can’t breathe”. None of that. The Niagara Falls police did the right thing because nobody died and the situation was brought under control. They’ll probably never get noticed for it. It’ll never make the national news. But it should.