MARCH 25- 26TH: BALANGBA OR ZOOM FEST?

KAYJATTA

The Gambia is poised for its version of the Tunisian-style "Jasmine Revolution" that emerged in Tunisia knocking down or severely shaking up long-time dictators in North African Middle East-Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria; and threatening monarchs in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Jordan.
Following the violent uprisings in the Arab world, many proponents of democracy in Black Africa have called for similar uprisings in their various countries that are under the deadly grip of perennial tyrants.
The Gambia seems to be one of such countries. Since the junior-officer coup of 1994, the Gambia has been painfully struggling under the oppressive regime of Chairman Jammeh.
The popular uprisings in the Arab world and the overnight fall of strongmen like Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Ben Ali of Tunisia, and the slow but certain fall and capture of Moamar Qaddaff-who until now has been referred to as the "King of African Kings"- served as a rude awakening for all the other dictators in Africa and the Arabian penninsula.
Some dictators, in anticipation of revolts, have taken pre-emptive steps to appease their populations by offering political and economic reforms. Jordan, Bahrain, and the intransigent Saudi Arabia have all offered economic and political concessions.
Similarly, the Gambia's president, Chairman Jammeh who has now metamorphosed into a "Sheikh Professor Doctor Alhagie Yahya A.J.J Jammeh Nasirul Deem"; apparently scared of his own fate has quickly appointed a press secretary (Fatou Camara-a professional journalist) and called a friendly consultation with his long-time enemyl, the press. In that consultative meeting with the press, Jammeh promised reforms but insisted he will not compromise national security. President Jammeh also insisted that he wasn't "moved by the revolts in Libya", grudgingly  referring to the wave of anti-dictatorship uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East. Jammeh, a student of Qaddaffi and J.J. Rawlings is obviously worried and dis-illusioned (as revealed by his body language and mannerisms) after witnessing the disgraceful fall of his masters and their revolutionary ideologies.
I have to say that ,after listening to Jammeh's concerns (about press freedom and democracy), he is subsumed in fear and lack of proper guidance. The best way to ensure national security is thorugh democracy and freedoms; the president needs to understand that. When  people have a legitimate peaceful avenue to express themselves and be heard, they are not likely to resort to violent means of voicing their concerns. Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, etc all have stifled legitimate means of political expression for decades.
Also the president needs to understand the dichotomy between "Jammeh-the-person" and "Jammeh-the-president". As president, he is a public servant and therefore must surrender some of his individual rights. Libel and sedition do not apply to public officials, unless "actual malice" is proven. Jammeh must not take criticism personally. The criticisms he is often so upset about are not about him as a person; they are about the presidency.
I would also like to mention that Jammeh's attack on the West again is his usual excuse for his routine clamp down on freedoms in the Gambia. His allegation that " people go to jail in America for denying the holocaust" is false and lacking evidence.
In his essay, The Leviathan, Hobbs depicts a ruler- a benevolent dictator who would throw biscuits to hungry children by day, but murder his opponents in cold blood by night. But that was only Hobbs argument against Rousseau's "state of nature" where "man was born free" and now "everywhere he is in chains".
Freedom in the Gambia is not likely to come from Jammeh. By political design, the executive is not often the protector of freedoms. Freedom hinders the operation of many executive branches. Freedom in the Gambia has to come from the courts. That is the story of the United States. That is the story of many great democracies. This however will not happen in the Gambia unless the courts start applying the concept of judicial review and assert their independence from the executive.
The past weeks, since the announcement of the date for "Balangba"(a popular uprising in the Gambia), President Jammeh has apart from reaching out to the media, sponsored over a million dalasis "Quranic memorization" contest, personally sponsored two patients for overseas treatment, and announced tens of millions of dollars of job-creation projects. Now the "Zoom Festival" is announced in the Gambia, scheduled for the  March 25th just a day before the mass protests planned to oust the President from office. It looks like the "Zoom Fest", which will feature local and international music stars, will kill or seriously derail "Balangba".
The Gambians, like many oppressed people, will likely prefer to party than to protest.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING: THE POLITICS OF TRANSIT IN LOS ANGELES

KayJatta

March 23, 2011

THE PROBLEMS OF TRANSPORTATION IN LOS ANGELES

The problems of transportation in Los Angeles (LA) were not uniquely characteristic of that city. Air pollution and traffic congestion are generally ongoing concerns for many metro regions in the United States.  Many cities attempted a change to transit in order to ease these problems.

However, the dilemma facing many cities, particularly Los Angeles is how to simultaneously lure suburban commuters out of their cars (by developing rapid transit system to the suburbs) and improve inner-city transportation.

Transit makes sense for Los Angeles because of the following factors:

·         88% drives to work by 1990 compared to 79% for Chicago and 63% for New York.

·         The use of transit is still low in Los Angeles. The flow of work-bound traffic in Los Angeles was only 24% in 1980, compared to 74% for Chicago and 60% for New York.

·         There was no clear evidence in Los Angeles that transit disproportionately benefit the White majority than minorities.

·         Los Angeles is more diverse than many comparative cities, but it was highly segregated racially and ethnically.

·         Jobs and activity centers are widely spread out in Los Angeles. There are at least 28 district sub-centers (satellites) outside the Central Business District (CBO).

However, despite the above mentioned factors, Los Angeles still has to grapple with the questions of whether transit should aim at getting people out of their cars or whether it should aim at serving people with fewer transportation choices. These two choices appeared to represent “a clash of civilizations” to borrow a phrase (although less fitting in this case) from the celebrated political scientist, Samuel Huntington. In 1994, a grassroots movement in Los Angeles that called itself the “Bus Riders Union” (BRU) filed a civil rights lawsuit after an expensive rail transit system to the suburbs was built in Los Angeles. The purpose of the lawsuit was to force the policymakers of the city of Los Angeles to meet the needs of the poor minority bus riders in the inner city.

According to Burrington and Heart (1998) in Joe Grengs (2002), this was the first successful challenge to transit agency decisions on the basis of civil rights and discrimination. The outcome of the lawsuit, described as one of the biggest civil rights actions includes these two:

·         Improved inner city bus services

·         Gave formal role to Bus Riders Union (BRU) in planning process

It is important to note that similar lawsuits in Philadelphia (1990) and New York (1995) failed woefully for reasons I will discuss in a later chapter.

CONTROVERSIAL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF TRANSPORTAION IN LOS ANGELES

In 1980, voters in Los Angeles approved a ballot measure (Proposition 8) for a new subway and rail system. This appeared to be an elite move aimed at appeasing suburban elite interests involving up to 25% of revenue devolved to local governments. The result is several urban rail lines including these:

·         The Blue Line (1990) connecting Long Beach to the Central Business District (CBO).

·         The Red Line (1993), an urban underground system including a downtown subway segment.

·         The Green Line (1995) running an east to west direction from Norwalk to Redondo Beach and the Los Angeles International Airport.

·         The Metro link which is a suburban commuter rail.

For all of these, as mentioned above, low income advocate bus riders received only a three-year reduction in bus fares. That sounds like a short end of the deal, right?

Los Angeles’ choice of rail as a solution to its transportation problems was not especially unique to the city. However, rail is a controversial choice. The critics of rail argue that:

·         It is very expensive. In Los Angeles, it was $6 billion in capital costs and $7 billion in debt.

·         Inappropriate for Los Angeles’ diverse economic activities

·         Does not attract enough riders

·         Would not reduce the twin urban evils of pollution and congestion

·         Takes away funds from a more cost-effective bus system

·         A mere political show that serves none other than the business people and their cronies (the growth machine).

·         Buses use existing infrastructure

·         Buses have higher ridership

·         Buses serve high-need populations

Proponents of rail however maintain that rail provides the following benefits:

·         Rail is a nationwide trend

·         An opportunity to use federal dollars

·         Reduction of pollution and congestion

·         Saves energy

·         Reduces urban sprawl

PLANNING THEORY

Transportation in Los Angeles could be analyzed in the light of several planning theories, such as consensus, advocacy, communicative action theory and critical theory.

Joe Grengs (2002) identified three factors (two internal and one external) in the political process model that every social movement comprises of. They are:

·         Political opportunities (external)

·         Organizational strength (internal)

·         Leadership and strategy (internal)

Although the opening of political opportunities represents the most important factor, the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union has been roundly praised for its organizational strength. The strong internal organization in the BRU around a common overriding issue (consensus building) was a major reason for its success. The lack of this internal consensus is perhaps the reason for failure elsewhere in New York (1995) and Philadelphia (1990) for example.

In the opening chapter to his article “Community-based Planning as a Source of Political Change”, Joe Grengs, a doctoral candidate at Cornell University argued that “if planners do not…take action in political settings, they risk failing to make constructive change” (pg. 165).

The Los Angeles Bus Riders Union, by every right is an advocacy group. It represents a particular interest group and actively lobbied, protested, and filed lawsuits (Paul Davidoff’s legalistic model) on their behalf. BRU effectively utilized a proactive participatory procedure that combines planning and political process to achieve a desired goal for the public good; Davidoff, P (1965).

The Bus Riders Union also relied on communicative action to argue for the implementation of their alternative plan for resolving the transportation problems in Los Angeles; Forrester, J (1980). They did not only critique the rail transit system but they also laid down the advantages of better bus service in the inner city. They even succeeded in qualifying mass transportation as a human rights issue in Los Angeles. The fact that the Bus Riders Union provided an alternative transportation plan against the rail transit plan of the city planners, it appears to be consistent with the pluralistic planning concept.

The BRU’s argument also bordered on questions of justice and equality. The Union successfully defined the controversy in terms of civil rights, perhaps drawing inspiration from both communicative (critical) planning and equity planning theories as proposed by Jorgen Herbamass and others.

REFERENCE:

1.       Community-based Planning as a Source of Political Change, Grengs, J. (2002)

2.       Advocacy and Pluralism in Planning; Davidoff, P. (1965)

3.       Critical Theory in Planning; Forrester, J. (1980)

4.       Ethical Frameworks and Planning Theory; Campbell, H et al (1999)

5.       Planning Through Consensus Building: A New View of Comprehensive Planning; Innes, J.E. (1996)

THE KANSAS CITY MAYORAL DEBATE: Draft Notes

MARCH 08, 2010.

KAYJATTA (IN ATTENDANCE)

Debate Host: Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas City Business Journal.

Debating Mayoral Candidates: Mike Burke (R) vs. Sly James (D)

Burke and James are two finalists from the primary elections, now face-to-face for the Kansas City mayor’s seat.

Each candidate was allowed three minutes (3 min) opening statement, three minutes (3 min) closing statements, and ninety seconds (90 sec) to answer questions.

Opening statements:

Sly James:

-          Four-year agenda-to attack the challenges facing KC systematically

-          No silver bullet- we must work together

-          Use human resources efficiently

-          Efficiency in government- education, law enforcement, safety, jobs

-          KC as one city-no North/South or East/West divides

Mike Burke:

-37 years leadership experience and results

-Has a vision of the future of KC

-attended law school

-wants to be mayor to be proud of

-wants to tell the KC story

Questions:

1.      How to fix the pension system imbalance of 32 million dollars ($86M compared to $54M budgeted).

Mike Burke:

-will apply multi-year budgeting

-will adopt the Blue Ribbon Panel’s recommendations

Sly James:

-Will listen to all stakeholders

-will have labor on the table

-will also have business on the table

-will adopt the Blue Ribbon panel’s report

2.      Retaining the E-Tax (Earnings tax)

Sly James:

-E-tax is the fairest tax

-it taxes people even if they do not live in KCMO but work and use services here

-it spread costs

-4,000 cities nationwide use E-tax, mostly higher than Kansas City’s 1%

Mike Burke:

-E-tax is a fair tax

-it goes to provide basic services

-half of the payers live outside KCMO

-It is fair to put E-Tax on the ballot

3.      What if it fails on the ballot, any alternatives?

Mike Burke:

-5-year requirement for vote is draconian

Sly James:

-hopes the E-Tax passes big

-will try to bring back “Citizens Commission on Municipal Revenue

-Will encourage participation

4.      Who inspires you?

Sly James:

-Father-not well educated but has a huge heart and loved community

-wife

-Children

Mike Burke:

-Father-a lawyer

-Three mayors here in attendance (includes K. Barnes)

5.      Polsinelli-Shugart Building controversy?

Mike Burke:

-Polsinelli jobs are needed here in KCMO

-will make sure building fits their needs but also saves the plaza

-will work with Highwoods but will protect the Plaza plan

Sly James:

-prefers not to take a side in the controversy

-will mediate to find amicable solution for both sides

-will try to save existing jobs on the plaza

6.      Accomplishments?

Sly James:

-New city manager

-Will avoid Wayne Cauthen situation and the two-year gridlock that followed

-Bring back Citizens commission on Municipal Revenue

-City workers with better morale

-Change and track new jobs

-cut bureaucratic tape

-adopt sustainable technology

-fill the KC of blank-tackle disparities

Mike Burke:

-KC recognized as a cultural center-attractive to young people

-will appoint city manager on day one-Troy Schulte

-bring jobs back to KC

-KC for young entrepreneurs

-strong connection between the mayor’s office and the arts community

-service attitude at City Hall-not a regulatory attitude

7.      How to stimulate distressed neighborhoods?

Sly James:

-will utilize mediation skill

-keep and follow up promises

-neighborhoods work with the city to reduce blight

-stimulate private investment

Mike Burke:

-acknowledged last 4 years was worst

-Change housing policy

-bulky items pickup will resume

-neighborhood alliance (advocacy) to interact with City Hall

8.      Transit?

Mike Burke:

-transit system that works for people to get to work

-buses

-anticipates crisis this summer when people won’t get to their jobs in Johnson County-gas prices

Sly James:

-commuter rail

-streetcars (18^th street)

-break down North/South and East/West divide

9.      Regional approach?

Mike Burke:

-tackle the urban core, downtown, and the Northland

-bring the city together

-3^rd district is devastation, he acknowledges

Sly James:

-will improve representation

-asked why Troost is a “demilitarized zone” and Stateline a “Berlin Wall”

10.  City and EDC?

Sly James:

-improves EDC‘s credibility

Mike Burke:

-credibility of EDC

11.  Police Board and police department?

Mike Burke:

-budget and local control

Sly James:

-budget and local control

12.  Closing statements:

Mike Burke:

-leadership

-experience

-knows what’s good and bad City Hall

-has record of accomplishments

-will be mayor to be proud of

-wants to see a sea of cranes instead of only one in KC-economic development

-KC as center for civic excellence

Sly James:

-describes himself as puzzle solver

-objective mediator-contrasts with Funkhouser years of gridlock

-promised to tackle KC as city of blank.

Kay's sidebar:
I drove in my wife's Dodge Stratus, in the light rainy afternoon, to the UMKC campus where I parked the car ( in anticipation of a parking nightmare) and hopped into a taxi to the Chamber of Commerce at the Union Station to attend the mayoral debate.

My driver to the venue was an Iranian and quickly we settled into a discussion about politics and the Gambia/Iran arms shipment impounded in Nigeria. My Iranian driver insisted that the illegal arm shipment could not have been by Iran, but a plot by Israel and America lol...

On my way back, I hopped into another taxi apparently driven by a Somali. As soon as I got in, he asked where I was from. I responed "Somalia", and he bursted into a hearty laughter. We didn't talk about the pirates though...

NEW ORLEANS: POST-DISASTER RECOVERY AND PLANNING.

NEW ORLEANS: POST-DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING.

KAYJATTA

March 8, 2011

POST-DISASTER PLANNING IN NEW ORLEANS:

Following Hurricane Katrina in the fall of 2005, New Orleans became perhaps the most contested city in terms of planning theory and ideas. The post-Disaster New Orleans is a laboratory of various recovery planning ideas as embodied in the numerous official plans such as those by the following:

Ø  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Ø  City of New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA)

Ø  State of Louisiana (United New Orleans Plan- UNOP)

Ø Recovery and Planning Commission  (RPC)

Part of the reason for the proliferation of recovery planning ideas in the post-Disaster New Orleans is due to political failure. Therefore, individual communities and neighborhoods saw the need to take planning into their own hands. Several neighborhood plans emerged as a result of this; among them are the Mid-City Recovery Plan initiated by the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization and the Lafitte Greenway, initiated by the Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC)-a citizen based advocacy group committed to converting the derelict Lafitte corridor into a trail and park system called a greenway. The Lafitte Corridor Greenway is expected to increase access to bike paths and walking trails. This improves neighborhood safety, especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children.

The participation of communities and neighborhoods in the planning and recovery of their own environments appear to indicate social and political empowerment. However, this has been accompanied by a privatization of planning to powerful private contractors who often undercut public participation and input.

Post-Disaster New Orleans has been a hot bed of social learning as knowledge from different sources-scientific, social, cultural,… are translated into action. The widespread and to some extent the exclusive use of digital media in planning and planning critique set (Post-Disaster recovery planning in ) New Orleans apart from all in the history of planning. The Unified Plan of New Orleans (UNOP) for example was highly influenced by interactive digital media. In its Community Congress I and II (2006), a public relations consulting firm, ‘America Speaks’ was alleged to have systematically engaged in distortion of information

RECOVERY AND REBUILDING:

While it might be true that “Brownie was doing a heck of a job”, New Orleans suffered a massive political failure from the onset of the disaster at both national and state levels.

The federal policy of temporary housing for example was both expensive and ineffective as it turned into a long-term housing project that trapped many ‘settlers’ in very deplorable conditions.

Recovery and rebuilding in New Orleans after the disaster was quite uneven due to the degree of disaster and how deep the area was submerged (flood depth). Therefore rebuilding and recovery was dependent on politics as well as geography.

Identifying and establishing homeownership (title) was problematic in many cases especially in minority neighborhoods where title deeds were often non-existent. This and issues of insurance as well as flood risk impeded recovery and rebuilding efforts in New Orleans.

PLANNING THEORY:

In his article “Digital Media and the Politics of Disaster Recovery in New Orleans”, Dr. Wagner argued that “the struggle to rebuild New Orleans was played out in the context of uncertainty, contested leadership and a highly politicized planning process”. This coupled with “problems of communication”, shifted the platform for planning onto the digital media.

Professor Wagner found out that recovery in New Orleans was characterized by “activism and unofficial planning led by citizens” in contrast to government-led planning in earlier cases.

While it is true that the use of digital media in planning may not result in increased democratization of planning, it certainly appears to increase individual and community participation. Digital Media, consistent with Dr. Wagner’s findings enhances planning critique, and thus facilitates pluralism and advocacy in planning as demanded by Paul Davidoff.

The contested field of planning in post-disaster New Orleans also witnessed the application of critical theory as laid out by John Forrester. The systematic manipulation and distortion of information to advance one’s position and interests was critical in the post-Katrina recovery efforts in New Orleans.

REFERENCES:

1.      Digital Media and the Politics of Disaster Recovery in New Orleans (Dr. Wagner, J  2010)

2.      Critical Theory in Planning (Forrester, J  1980)

3.      Advocacy and Pluralism in Planning (Davidoff, P 1965).

4.      Master Plan: Friends of Lafitte Corridor