Gaston Business Association’s Post

Are People from Northern Cali Real Southerners? | Texas vs. California Debate Join the heated debate as we discuss whether individuals from Northern California can be considered real Southerners. Get diverse perspectives and opinions on this intriguing topic. #TexasVsCalifornia #NorthvsSouth #CaliSoutherners #DebateClub #RegionalIdentity #CaliforniaLiving #SouthernCulture #DifferentPerspectives #DiversityMatters #NorthernCalifornia

🎙️ Missed the conversation?🎧💬 Happy to share a recording of yesterday's episode of The Raad Life featured Jeff Starke, candidate for Irvine City Council District 2, where he discussed his strategic vision for the future of Irvine. Throughout the interview, Jeff highlighted ✨ several key priorities🎤 : 👉 Traffic Solutions: One of the major topics Jeff addressed was the need to reduce traffic congestion, especially in District 2. He emphasized implementing better infrastructure planning, improving road safety, and expanding bike lanes to create safer, more efficient transportation options for residents. He spoke about practical, community-focused approaches to ease the daily traffic challenges faced by Irvine citizens. 👉 Public Safety: Jeff stressed his commitment to maintaining Irvine’s high public safety standards. He discussed working closely with local law enforcement and emergency services to ensure that the city continues to be a safe place for families, and he touched on tackling specific issues like theft and irresponsible e-bike use. 👉 Sustainable Growth: Another focus of Jeff's campaign is sustainable development. He emphasized preserving open spaces while accommodating necessary growth, ensuring Irvine maintains its unique character. He is committed to smart, balanced development that includes housing for all income levels, ensuring teachers, first responders, and healthcare workers can afford to live in the city they serve. 👉 Advancing Projects at the Great Park: Jeff also brought attention to stalled projects at the Great Park and discussed his plan to move these forward. He believes that developing the Great Park’s resources and infrastructure is essential for both recreational use and the broader community, and he’s dedicated to ensuring it meets the needs of Irvine residents. Jeff’s focus on practical solutions and community-driven leadership aims to address the needs of District 2 while preserving Irvine’s reputation as one of the safest, most vibrant cities in California. Find out more about Jeff at website at jeffstarke.com #JeffStarke #IrvineCityCouncil #District2 #TheRaadLife #PublicSafety #SustainableGrowth #TrafficSolutions #GreatPark #communityfirst #IrvineFuture #CommunityLeadership #SmartDevelopment #SafeNeighborhoods #BalancedGrowth #InnovativeSolutions #IrvineStrong #LocalLeadership #BetterIrvine #CityCouncil2024 #SustainableLiving #BetterTransportation #OCPolitics

When strategy is turned into practice, good things happen in rural America. That's the story for the City of Madison, SD. PASQ was invited to collaborate with seven city and community leaders to build a three-year strategic plan for one of South Dakota's up-and-coming communities. The result? Real, tangible solutions changing lives for the better. Learn more about the "magic" in Madison and how we at PASQ can help you build an actionable, strategic vision in your community. 👇

Portlanders: What kind of city council leaders do you want to represent you? The 2024 Portland: Your City, Your Choice Survey from the Oregon Values & Beliefs Center Values and Beliefs Center focuses on Portlanders' core values and beliefs by asking questions ranging from quality of life to the kind of City Council members you want representing the city. Just take it! https://lnkd.in/grq3Qfey

Here it is! Interested in the future of Wales?🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Following a two year national conversation with the people of Wales, today we have published our final report. #ShapingOurNation 👇 https://lnkd.in/gSY33UPs

Since becoming The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland almost six months ago, we’ve heard a lot of different feedback. Amid overwhelming support for the space our new name creates for Indigenous perspectives on the history here, we’re also aware of some fear and discomfort around our name change. I recently met with a group of community members who feel strongly that the name Fort Calgary should remain for this site. Their concerns mainly stem from a perception that the name change will serve to erase Fort Calgary’s history and the legacy of the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP). I continuously reflect on the logic and irony of this position. We’re more committed than ever to understanding and sharing credible information about Fort Calgary and the impacts of its presence on this land. Our staff historian is examining historical records through a critical lens. We are learning more about, among other things, how the NWMP jailed women for “lunacy” at Fort Calgary, and how officers here aided in the return of runaway children to residential schools. How can we have truthful conversations about this history under a banner that serves to glorify the NWMP, the systems they upheld and the harm they caused?  I am responsible for stewarding this public land, and I am dedicated to our organization’s contribution to becoming an anti-racist city, as outlined in the City of Calgary Anti-Racist Strategic Plan. As the leader of a cultural institution and nationally designated historic site in Canada, I am committed to meeting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. This is our path, and these commitments are integral to our organization’s journey.  Unfortunately, our direction is difficult for some to accept. People question why we can’t just go back to the way things were. Why not continue delivering the same story? I acknowledge everyone is on their own journey—that some don’t yet know or believe the truth that must come before reconciliation. Conversations about this subject can be incredibly challenging. Although we try to meet people where they are, we can’t go backwards. Community members and visitors who support The Confluence’s journey have shared they are not interested in upholding a version of the past that only frames a fraction of the picture, and nor am I, as uncomfortable as that might feel.  

EYE ON THE TRI - Lifestyles of the Tri-Valley East Bay of San Francisco - 04.05.2024 When you believe in yourself you don't need convince anyone about how great you are. When you are content with yourself you don't need the approval of anyone else, and when you accept yourself the world will accept you. #CompassRealEstate #BayAreaRealEstate #SFBayArea #RealEstateInvesting

Hopefully the plan is figuring out how to solve our existing problems in town, as well as around our schools like damaged streets, speeding in our school zones, & making it safer for all students who walk to school before we continue to keep building apartments/houses. Every morning when I drop my kiddos off at school, I can’t help but to be annoyed at the fact that so many people are such in a rush, they don’t take in regard for any student that may be walking to school. Our “small” city is growing. No doubt about that. But when the speed limit in the school zone is 25 and you have people going 35 constantly, it’s entirely aggravating. There’s never any police presence overseeing. Not to mention, the “back roads” which my main way to and from home, is constantly getting congested now due to adding more apartments/ houses and now a LAGOON. Peoples land/ranches have been bought out and our city can’t even fix the problems we have now. Or what about the fact that the streets are all uneven beyond what you expect. If you’re not going 10, you might misalign your vehicles. No speed limit signs posted so people go whatever speed they want to, and don’t even get me started on 380! It is the worst hwy going through town ever!! It’s dangerous to say the least. Two lanes each way, and constant accidents every day. Something’s gotta give. I hope she has solutions to move in the right direction.

Great insights were shared at the FOCUS St. Louis event! Former St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, Former St. Louis County Council Member Colleen Wasinger, and Former President & CEO of Bi-State Development and Mayor of Chesterfield John Nations provided valuable nuggets on finding common ground through civil discourse. Here are some key takeaways from the event: 1. Building relationships is crucial to achieving success. 2. Working across party lines is necessary for progress. 3. Disagreements can be productive, as long as they are respectful. 4. Avoid seeking attention in a negative way. 5. Politics should be about the business of people, not outside agendas. 6. Our young people need more ways to connect and get involved. It was good to hear the discussion on how we can improve civil discourse in our community. Thank you to Yemi A. Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D and Jody Sowell Sowell for facilitating these important discussions. Let's continue to strive for civil discourse and finding common ground. #FOCUSStLouis #CivilDiscourse #CommunityDiscussions

Our final quarterly update for 2023 is here!