Local Government Work

What’s Happening Now in Local Government?

Many of us don’t see ourselves represented in our government. Our elected leaders are still far less diverse than our communities and the decisions they make seem far removed from most of our  daily lives. While distrust in government is growing across the U.S.,  local decisions offer critical opportunities to rebuild trust and power within our democracy. But even as local governments expand their toolbox for community participation, most engagement is limited to one-directional or superficial feedback. Advocates and community members give testimony in public hearings with no meaningful response from decision makers. Their suggestions are often tied to established positions, encouraging debate and discouraging creative problem-solving. All the while, decision makers have exclusive access to the information, laws and policies that constrain key decisions.  Meanwhile, in-depth forums like boards and commissions are only open to those with specialized expertise or particular interests, leaving out those with lived experience about key issues. All too often, the same voices – those with the most access and privilege – have more voice in all of these spaces.

The ways we engage often leave most of us – the public, stakeholders, and decision makers – feeling frustrated and unheard. Everyone’s talking but no one is listening. Sounds like a lose-lose situation, right? It doesn’t have to be.