I would like to become more involved with my local city council and planning committees. I live in a small town so I have a pretty good shot at getting selected for a position. The problem is that I don’t know a lot about the policies and rules behind local government. I would love some advice and recommendations for articles or books.
Thanks in advance.
My suggestion is to attend the meetings of these bodies, and strike up conversations with the council members so they know who you are.
I would suggest getting familiar with the open meetings/open records laws in your state. They do vary state to state, but a great resource is your state’s press association. Quite often, they’ll have a summary of those laws that they’ll send out to anyone who is interested.
Go to www.mapquest.com and it will figure it all out for you, even plan a route by highway.
July 24, 2007
Bill for New York City ID Card to Be Introduced by Councilman
By NINA BERNSTEIN
Identification cards would be made available to all New York City residents — including tens of thousands of illegal immigrants — under a proposal by a City Council member from Queens who was inspired by a pioneering program that begins in New Haven today.
“I would hope that the federal government would not retaliate against the city of New York if we provided for a municipal identification card,” the council member, Hiram Monserrate, said yesterday, referring to a federal immigration raid in New Haven last month two days after that city approved the issuance of municipal cards.
“The city of New York is home to eight million people, many of them immigrants and some of them, frankly, undocumented,” said Mr. Monserrate, who plans to introduce legislation tomorrow to create the ID card. “Some of them have been residents of the city for many years, and to give them a basic ID card that’s valid within the city limits only makes sense for our municipality.”
Mr. Monserrate, a New York-born former city police officer who represents one of the city’s most diverse districts, called the legislation a first step.
Christine C. Quinn, the Council speaker, would not comment on its chances for success in the 51-member Council, a spokeswoman said, adding that the bill would be referred to committee for a full review.
In New Haven, a city of 125,000, the Board of Aldermen overwhelmingly approved the plan to offer the cards, which can be used by immigrants to open bank accounts as well as to gain access to municipal services.
So that the card, known as the Elm City Resident Card, would not become a “scarlet letter” for illegal immigrants, it was designed to appeal to all residents by combining access to pools, libraries and the municipal golf course, and doubling as a parking debit card.
But critics argue that it will entice illegal immigration and undermine border security.
For many city residents, the only state or local government identification now available is a driver’s license or a nondriver ID card. For both, the State Department of Motor Vehicles requires a Social Security card and other documents that prove legal presence in the country.
A municipal ID could encourage immigrants to report crimes to police, Mr. Monserrate said, as well as to request services.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/nyregion/24id.html
does anyone else see the potential problem with these cards, in that terrorists can obtain them, and use them to their advantage? if people are undocumented, then you have to take them at their word as to who they are. what makes anyone think that an illegal is suddenly going to be honest about anything?
I had a code enforcement officer ask to look inside my repair project, they presented me a card stating City of X Police Dept. I told her to get a warrant and come back. Is she impersonating a police officer if she is not a sworn officer. She filed a criminal investigation against me which resulted in no complaint found, and was dropped. I feel that if she was a police officer, she had the option of getting a warrant and coming back, ps I did allow the building inspector, whom on his card respresent the building dept come on the job and inspect, which he signed off as no problems.
Not unless she said she was a regular police officer. AFAIK, code enforcers are regular cops, like metermaids.
It’s urgent, I need to be in contact with them right now!
If there isnt a phone number on your statement or you cant get to them through the directory then you probably arent going to be able to talk to them, especially right now!
I’m looking for the name/author of a children’s book featuring a house out in the country, and over each page that a city is gradually built around the little house, until it becomes a huge metropolis and I think at the end the house is actually moved from the city out to the country. I remember reading it when I was young (say, mid-to-late-80s) but I have no idea what it was called.
The book is called The Little House and it’s by Virginia Lee Burton. I remember having read this book when I was little its really good.
it’s G’nR v. Green Day.
I like Paradise city. Green Day can’t even hold a candle to Guns.
Edit: Axl may have a bad reputation among the public, but he’s a talented bastard. So is Duff, Izzy, Slash and Steven Adler (Matt Sorum is ok).
I am planning on relocating to Chicago after the year 2009. I am a single individual who is looking for a city that is a good place to make new friends and a place where it is safe to live on your own. I have narrowed my choices to eight cities and I was wondering in your opinion, which of the cities listed below are good cities to reside in;
1. Evanston (Cook County)
2. Naperville (DuPage County)
3. Lake Forest (Lake County)
4. Plainfield (Will County)
5. Elgin (Kane County)
6. Crystal Lake (McHenry County)
7. United City of Yorkville (Kendall County)
8. Lisle (Dupage County)
Which of the eight cities would you say is the best city to reside in and the least best city to reside in and why?
evanston-very expensive, ritzy fritzy
naperville- expansive, good schools, nice downtown area, college in town
lake forest-michael jordan lives there, very very expensive
plainfield-cheap housing, lots of "ghetto" people moving there from the city, kinda redneckish
elgin-has good parts and bad parts, expensive in good parts, ghetto and gang problems in bad parts
crystal lake- not totally developed not too close to the city either, kinda boring up there
yorkville- not too much going on out there
lisle-expensive housing for not too new houses. nicely placed near interstates.
I personally would choose either naperville, lisle, or the nice new parts of plainfield. if you have any more questions feel free to contact me
What type of jobs are in the fire dept. I know they are different by city and town. But can you explain some common ones.
I don’t quite understand. I believe you’re asking what type of divisions are in a fire dept. Such as search and rescue and what not. Well for my department it goes like such-
Rescue *Medics* (what i do) – They drive and control the rescue trucks. We are trained paramedics who transport patients in need of advanced life support. The ambulances consist of P1-P21
Rescue *Basics*- They drive and control the rescue trucks. They are trained EMT’s who transport patients in need of basic life support. These ambulances consist of A1-A16
Rescue *Special OPS*- These guys and gals are responsible for vehicle extrication and operations that may need "tools". Such as the jaws of life. We have around 20 of these vehicles.
Hazmat- Self explanatory these guys are used for hazmat spills and what not.
Fire suppression- These are the ones who run into the buildings. Search and rescue if you will. This was my first job before i became a Medic. They consist of
structural collapse- Scaffolding falls for example and they are the ones who bungee from the windows and save you.
Confined space rescue- These are the real search and rescuers. They go after the hosemen and search for bodies.
Hosemen- They guide and hold the hose into the structure.
Ladder company- They drive the ladder
Engine copmany- They drive the engines, also assist paramedics. They are strength in numbers. Very helpful to drive our ambulance when we are working a serious emergency such as a cardiac arrest.
If i think of anymore i missed i will update it.
York? I love York, it has haunted pubs, the beautiful Minster, museums and attractions, ghost walks etc. The shambles (victorian shopping street is gorgeous) depends what you’re into I suppose. I also love Cheddar and Wookey Hole.