Rebuild Government Proposals Bolster Diversity, Neighborhood Participation

By bonnykinney on June 18th, 2010

The community coalition Rebuild Government is making good on its promise to take public questions and concerns to the Memphis and Shelby County Metro Charter Commission, as commissioners continue to draft a new metro government charter. After hearing input from citizens, especially at Wednesday night’s Digital Community Forum, Rebuild Government has proposed to charter commissioners an Office of Diversity and Small Business and a Neighborhoods Commission established in the new charter.

The Office of Diversity and Small Business would encourage the metro government to buy more goods and services from locally owned small businesses, including those businesses owned by minorities and women, while still monitoring cost-saving measures. The office would also foster the start-up and growth of small businesses in the metro government area.

The Neighborhoods Commission would monitor a wide range of policies and programs affecting neighborhoods, including traffic, parking, recreation, street improvements, zoning, police protection and overall livability. The Commission would also make sure people who live in neighborhoods affected by government action are properly heard.

“One of the missions of Rebuild Government is to keep open the lines of communication between everyday citizens and the Metro Charter Commission. Our citizens want a community where their children can grow up safely. They want neighborhoods that will encourage their kids to stay in the area and plant their own roots. That is why we’re suggesting these ideas to commissioners,” said Rebuild Government Executive Director Brian Stephens.

The Metro Charter Commission approved the recommendations and will be working them into the new charter. Commissioners will present a draft summary of their policies to the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, at The FedEx Institute at the University of Memphis. From there, commissioners will hold public hearings throughout July.

Those scheduled right now include:

July 8, 2010: Memphis Botanic Gardens, 5:30-7 p.m.

July 15, 2010: Southwind High School, 5:30-7 p.m.

July 22, 2010: Ed Rice Community Center, 5:30-7 p.m.