Listening to Voters: Collaborative Leadership
Why I am running for City Council
Representative governance is based on communication. The success of this governing model depends upon an ongoing conversation about how we plan, organize and implement our common vision. Great outcomes result from the best of these conversations. Thirty five years ago, Spokane had a conversation about hosting a World’s Fair. The enduring legacy of that conversation is the special place we know as Riverfront Park.Spokane had another great conversation beginning twelve years ago. What came out of that conversation was a brilliant vision for our city’s future. Following six years of intense focus, this vision was adopted as our city’s Comprehensive Plan. Most people who have read our plan have come away saying: “Wow, what a great place! Spokane is where I want to live.” The plan promises many things: robust economic growth based on an urban model called “centers and corridors,” cost containment of the municipal budget based on higher urban densities, a city with a variety of transportation options where one is be able to walk, bike or use transit as easily as one can drive and preservation of the urban design provided the city by the Olmstead brothers almost a century ago.
With this plan, Spokane set its sights on becoming a world-class city, one that would provide a quality of life unsurpassed anywhere on earth. Regrettably, our plan has not been implemented. To date, we have not elected leaders that subscribe to this common vision for our city. The trajectory of our fate toward an ever sprawling, car-dependent community has not changed. Citizens must again seriously engage in our ongoing conversation if Spokane is to see its anticipated future realized.
I have engaged in this civic conversation for the past ten years. My theme has been consistent: please deliver on the promises made in our Comprehensive Plan:
- neighborhood planning necessary to see urban centers and corridors realized
- the preservation and expansion of the urban forest
- the installation of bicycle lanes on designated bike routes
- the preservation and enhancement of our transit system
- the installation of crosswalks to maintain pedestrian pathways
Needless to say, I have not been the only citizen engaged in this manner. From those who want their public spaces preserved, to those seeking to protect their neighborhood’s integrity, to those that persevere to make our city walkable and bikable for all - many are engaged in our conversation - and all are seemingly frustrated at the one-sided character the conversation has assumed.
The City of Spokane has an astounding legacy thanks to our environmental heritage and to the generations that preceded us here. This city has a tremendous future - but only if we seize the moment to shape that future. We have done the necessary planning. What remains is to implement our vision. Let’s succeed by putting the best people in leadership positions to deliver the future we have promised ourselves and our children.
PAID FOR
BY FRIENDS OF RICHARD RUSH • PO BOX 714 •
SPOKANE WA 99210-0714