Wednesday, January 31, 2007
One of the state's largest cities says I'm right
Yes, even your faithful correspondent is right about something now and then. That's why I felt I had to brag in the headline. I feel really validated by something I just witnessed in, of all places, the Spokane Opera House. Let me share.
In 2006, Lakewood Mayor Claudia Thomas organized several joint monthly meetings with the school board and City Council, and the staffs of both the city and schools, to discuss what we can learn from the book 'Smart Communities.'
At each workshop, I said the same thing: the smartest cities set public benchmarks to measure the progress of their community, and then mobilize activity around them.
For example, we might choose test scores in Lakewood schools and the crime rate as a benchmark, and work to unite the community to deal with the underlying issues.
In other communities, these benchmarks are sometimes called a report card.
I write this in the C wing of the Spokane Airport, waiting for an Alaska plane. If you ever fly Alaska Airlines into or out of Spokane, you spend a lot of time waiting. But I'm feeling really good because of what I just saw. So maybe it's nice I have time to write.
A couple of hours ago, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and the Spokane Economic Development Commission held a ceremony at the Spokane Opera House to celebrate that they have become one entity. They merged. They are joining forces to promote the economy and well-being of Spokane. Hundreds of people attended this kickoff event. I attended as part of my 'day job.'
Guess what the newly united organization announced?
They announced that they are going to set annual benchmarks for Spokane.
I have in my hands a glossy publication about the statistics around which they hope to unify Spokane. The publication was presented to the hundreds by a member of the committee that brought the two groups together, the publisher of the local daily newspaper.
In Spokane's case, they chose an unusually large number of benchmarks including:
Number of business establishments per 100,000 people.
Unemployment rate.
Dropout rate.
Student-to-teacher ratio.
Post-secondary degrees.
Average annual wage.
Per capita personal income.
Female officials and managers.
Cost of Living.
Child poverty rate.
Housing affordability index.
Crime rate.
And others...
I'm not sure Lakewood has enough energy to mobilize people around that many goals. The point is, Spokane 'gets it' that you motivate people by giving them a target. In Lakewood's case, we could choose fewer statistics around which to measure our progress every year.
Spokane should get full credit for having a vision, and mapping it on paper. What do you think would be the most meaningful statistics to measure progress in Lakewood? Around what causes, tied to some sort of measurable number, can we mobilize volunteers? Let me know what you think.
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In 2006, Lakewood Mayor Claudia Thomas organized several joint monthly meetings with the school board and City Council, and the staffs of both the city and schools, to discuss what we can learn from the book 'Smart Communities.'
At each workshop, I said the same thing: the smartest cities set public benchmarks to measure the progress of their community, and then mobilize activity around them.
For example, we might choose test scores in Lakewood schools and the crime rate as a benchmark, and work to unite the community to deal with the underlying issues.
In other communities, these benchmarks are sometimes called a report card.
I write this in the C wing of the Spokane Airport, waiting for an Alaska plane. If you ever fly Alaska Airlines into or out of Spokane, you spend a lot of time waiting. But I'm feeling really good because of what I just saw. So maybe it's nice I have time to write.
A couple of hours ago, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce and the Spokane Economic Development Commission held a ceremony at the Spokane Opera House to celebrate that they have become one entity. They merged. They are joining forces to promote the economy and well-being of Spokane. Hundreds of people attended this kickoff event. I attended as part of my 'day job.'
Guess what the newly united organization announced?
They announced that they are going to set annual benchmarks for Spokane.
I have in my hands a glossy publication about the statistics around which they hope to unify Spokane. The publication was presented to the hundreds by a member of the committee that brought the two groups together, the publisher of the local daily newspaper.
In Spokane's case, they chose an unusually large number of benchmarks including:
Number of business establishments per 100,000 people.
Unemployment rate.
Dropout rate.
Student-to-teacher ratio.
Post-secondary degrees.
Average annual wage.
Per capita personal income.
Female officials and managers.
Cost of Living.
Child poverty rate.
Housing affordability index.
Crime rate.
And others...
I'm not sure Lakewood has enough energy to mobilize people around that many goals. The point is, Spokane 'gets it' that you motivate people by giving them a target. In Lakewood's case, we could choose fewer statistics around which to measure our progress every year.
Spokane should get full credit for having a vision, and mapping it on paper. What do you think would be the most meaningful statistics to measure progress in Lakewood? Around what causes, tied to some sort of measurable number, can we mobilize volunteers? Let me know what you think.
