What I Learned at a Community Meeting

A few weeks ago I attended a community meeting at the elementary school. The city invited our neighborhood to attend this meeting to discuss community issues with city representatives such as police, fire, health, zoning, etc. As someone who has a vested interest in the community, and also since our church does so much work within this community, I thought I'd take it in and see what inside information I could get on our piece of Sioux Falls. Take the following quiz and see what I learned:

1) How many people attend a community meeting?
a) 75-100
b) 50-74
c) 25-49
d) less than 8

Score 1 point if you answered "d". Also, bonus point if you guessed that the median age of those in attendance was 96.

2) When asked what type of crime is occuring in our community, the police officer
a) stares blankly at you
b) says "it's not as bad as Omaha!"
c) gives you the detailed information you were looking for
d) gives you detailed information about a neighborhood 5 miles away from yours

Score 1 point if you answered "d" (might as well have been "a"!). Seriously, the officer gave good information, but it was miles away from our neighborhood. Fun fact though: apparently, there is a connection between disc golf and marijuana use (who knew?!?).

3) When a conflict occurs on a city ordinance between the city attorny and a police officer,
a) the police officer wins, because he has a gun
b) the police officer wins, because he can arrest the attorney
c) the police officer wins, because he can beat up the attorney
d) the attorney wins, because they can say "don't tell me what I know and don't know, I know the law!"

Score 1 point if you answered "d".

4) Outdoor fire pits (the kind you buy at any Wal Mart or comparable store) must be a minimum of how many feet away from your home?
a) there is no ordiance governing this
b) 5 feet
c) 10 feet
d) 25 feet

Score 1 point if you answered "d". At 25 feet, my fire pit, like most everyone else in my neighborhood, would be in my neighbor's backyard!

5) The purpose of the community meeting is
a) to organize a neighborhood watch
b) to get tips on having a good block party
c) to connect with other like minded neighbors
d) to find out all the ways you can narc on your neighbor without actually talking to them

Score 1 point if you answered "d", though answers a-c seem like a far more valuable use of time. Our city leaders were more than happy to spend time letting us know all of the various the ways in which you can report someone for violations such as under inflated trailer tires, unkept lawns, and fire pits. By the way, if you get something from the health department, take action, they may be the most powerful department in our city!

Seriously though, I was disappointed (to say the least) with the meeting. I learned nothing, and felt angry that our city's time and energy was spent on empowering neighbors to work against each other rather than on organizing neighbors to work together. Guess we'll have to take that up at the block party.