Governance dilemmas of the day can sometimes seem intractable.
Considering the thoughtful insights (even though unflattering to municipal politicians) presented in Saeed Hydaralli's review of U of T Prof Mariana Valverde's book "Everyday Law on the Street: City Governance in an Age of Diversity"...perhaps it's time for me now to order the actual book.
"Any social formation that aspires to long-term persistence complemented by social justice, including a concern with the issue of diversity and social inclusion, requires a system of governance grounded in an ethics of collective well-being, and facilitated by regulations and practices that are suitably responsive to the exigencies of collective life and its complexity."
'Socio-legal scholar' Mariana Valverde writes of the "complex network of legal and administrative mechanisms" as well as the “mundane details of how cities regulate space, settle disputes, and interpret ordinances and regulations,” and is "ultimately calling for a perspective that asks after the good of the city."
"[N]early all civic energy is spent either on micro-local issues (improving or preserving this or that amenity or streetscape) or in single-issue campaigns, say to create bike lanes or set up farmers’ markets.” "While such issues might be important in themselves, they are rarely incorporated into larger strategic undertakings that require thinking about the good of the city as a whole and the ways in which any issue must be measured for its relevance to the life of the city."
Hydaralli notes that even though Valverde "takes as her case study the city of Toronto, her objective is to secure findings that are relevant for urban governance in general" https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/.../view/24228/18052
What prompted me to consider the above was the letter on this morning's Community Services Committee meeting from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43 opposing the issuance of permits to provide free food at Memorial Park (CS-20-50)
http://app.oshawa.ca/.../com.../2020/09-21/corr_cs-20-50.pdf
and the perspective of L.I.F.E. organizer and volunteers providing the free food service at Memorial Park from what they have written recently on Facebook, where it seems there is a feeling of harassment on both sides of this issue.
I thank both the writer of the Legion letter for bringing this discussion to City Council, and I thank John E Walker
and his volunteers for how they bravely stepped in and generously stepped up support for those in need downtown during the pandemic.
With continued conversations, open minds and flexible opportunities, all parties involved have to believe there is a path forward that will be good for the city as a whole.
Considering the thoughtful insights (even though unflattering to municipal politicians) presented in Saeed Hydaralli's review of U of T Prof Mariana Valverde's book "Everyday Law on the Street: City Governance in an Age of Diversity"...perhaps it's time for me now to order the actual book.
"Any social formation that aspires to long-term persistence complemented by social justice, including a concern with the issue of diversity and social inclusion, requires a system of governance grounded in an ethics of collective well-being, and facilitated by regulations and practices that are suitably responsive to the exigencies of collective life and its complexity."
'Socio-legal scholar' Mariana Valverde writes of the "complex network of legal and administrative mechanisms" as well as the “mundane details of how cities regulate space, settle disputes, and interpret ordinances and regulations,” and is "ultimately calling for a perspective that asks after the good of the city."
"[N]early all civic energy is spent either on micro-local issues (improving or preserving this or that amenity or streetscape) or in single-issue campaigns, say to create bike lanes or set up farmers’ markets.” "While such issues might be important in themselves, they are rarely incorporated into larger strategic undertakings that require thinking about the good of the city as a whole and the ways in which any issue must be measured for its relevance to the life of the city."
Hydaralli notes that even though Valverde "takes as her case study the city of Toronto, her objective is to secure findings that are relevant for urban governance in general" https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/.../view/24228/18052
What prompted me to consider the above was the letter on this morning's Community Services Committee meeting from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43 opposing the issuance of permits to provide free food at Memorial Park (CS-20-50)
http://app.oshawa.ca/.../com.../2020/09-21/corr_cs-20-50.pdf
and the perspective of L.I.F.E. organizer and volunteers providing the free food service at Memorial Park from what they have written recently on Facebook, where it seems there is a feeling of harassment on both sides of this issue.
I thank both the writer of the Legion letter for bringing this discussion to City Council, and I thank John E Walker
and his volunteers for how they bravely stepped in and generously stepped up support for those in need downtown during the pandemic.
With continued conversations, open minds and flexible opportunities, all parties involved have to believe there is a path forward that will be good for the city as a whole.