Neill Coleman’s Post

Civic Responsibility and Community Engagement Being self-aware and informed about your role in the democratic process, such as voting in elections, is a foundational responsibility for every citizen. However, true civic engagement extends far beyond the ballot box. While casting a vote is an essential way to express one’s voice and preferences, it’s just the beginning of active community participation. Going Beyond Voting Voting is a critical first step in shaping the policies and leadership that influence our daily lives. However, a deeper understanding of civic responsibility requires continuous engagement with the community you are a part of. This means being conscious of local issues, participating in community meetings, and staying informed about decisions made at the neighborhood, city, and state levels. A democratic society thrives when its citizens remain active contributors, not just during elections, but throughout the year. Being a Good Community Member Being a good community member involves more than just fulfilling civic duties; it means embracing an ongoing commitment to contribute positively to the environment around you. This can be done through volunteer work, participating in community events, and supporting local businesses and initiatives. Active participation in Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWA), housing societies, and other local organizations is vital in creating a thriving and supportive community. Engagement in Housing Societies and RWAs Participation in your housing society or commercial RWA is a direct way to influence the quality of life within your immediate environment. Regular attendance at meetings, voicing concerns, and collaborating on projects can help address shared issues like security, maintenance, and the development of community resources. Consistency in participation not only ensures that your interests are represented but also fosters a spirit of solidarity and collective responsibility. Consistency and Conscious Effort Awareness and participation should not be limited to times of elections or significant community events. It requires a conscious and consistent effort to engage with and contribute to the well-being of one’s society. Regularly connecting with neighbors, understanding community needs, and offering support where possible are all aspects of being a responsible and committed citizen. In summary, while elections serve as a reminder of our democratic duties, our sense of civic awareness and community responsibility should persist throughout the year. Being self-aware means understanding that democracy is a living process, and our role in it extends far beyond voting—it is about being a proactive, conscious, and consistent member of the community. #elections #haryana #responsibility

https://lnkd.in/eEA-e_4B Just as in 2020 and 2022, this is a recipe for problems, disputes and doubts, leading to voter squabbles over outcomes. Have we forgotten about all of the troubling issues resulting from public/private funding support of those elections? Our national (or even local) elections should not be reduced to public/private partnerships with corporations or other entities, for-profit or nonprofit, that actually or potentially have a vested interest in a particular outcome. Elections should be funded only by public (taxpayer) dollars and managed only by properly elected or appointed public servants (administrators). Period; full stop.

BIPOC voters in the South are not monolithic, as you’ll find varied experiences, priorities, and political views. The same voters do have a significant influence on elections and policy decisions as seen through historic participation and increasing civic engagement. The Opportunity Agenda's “ Beyond Democracy: Mobilizing BIPOC Voters in the South” narrative guide is designed to reshape and energize voter engagement. Resources like this are key to driving transformative change, and building a democracy that truly reflects and includes every voice. https://lnkd.in/gtq7Jy8Q

Great article by Sophie Peel in Willamette Week about the abuse of the city's Small Donor Campaign by several of the City Council candidates contributing to each other's campaigns...! My first reaction is that we should establish a boycott list of candidates willing to accept public matching funds in an illegal way. You can follow the links in Sophie's article, but that includes Michael Di Napoli, Chad Lykins, Sam Sachs, Theo Hathaway Saner, Thomas Shervey, and Kelly Janes. I've identified the Linkedin profiles for those candidates, so they can offer a clarifying statement. None of the candidates were endorsed by the Revitalize Portland Coalition, so I'm comfortable shaming these folks. My second reaction is that the city's Small Donor Program is insuring the failure of the city's dysfunctional ranked choice, multi-member district electoral system. https://lnkd.in/gtdUJKwn As I understand the rules, candidates can receive unlimited contributions two years in advance of the election (aka, "seed money") but cannot accept donations larger than $350 after applying to the Small Donor Program. At the same time, the program doesn't block spending by political action committees, 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations paying for staff time, canvassing, phone banks, list provision, etc. The rules essentially guarantee that Mayoral and City Council candidates won't be able to buy television advertising, which in Portland has been dominated by the three Congressional races, where spending is not restricted. Of course, the problem persists that a candidate can get elected with as little as 10% of the vote under the 60-30-10 scenario. In that situation, a well-known or incumbent candidate like Dan Ryan or Steve Novick can capture a majority of the vote and win a seat equal to a fringe candidate earning only 10% of the vote. Voter are expected to pick their "Top Six" candidates with insufficient information about candidates. After all, we no longer have a daily newspaper... Rather than eliminating fringe candidates in a first round and allowing voters to learn more about the viable candidates, we get an instant result. For that reason alone, voters should oppose Measure 117 in November, which seeks to extend the instant primary to federal and state elections, while keeping our closed party primary system. And for political junkies, when will find out the results from the November 5th election for City Council...? It would be helpful if the media outlets like KGW-TV, OPB, The Oregonian / OregonLive.com, Willamette Week, and others arranged small area voter polls, but I'm guessing that most voters won't make their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th place choices until they fill out their voter's pamphlet. https://lnkd.in/gDy_mFGc

We need to reach 3 million voters in 7 swing states. Our trained volunteer drivers are waiting in 258 swing voter hub areas for their app to buzz with a Democrat who needs to Ride2Vote. We do not want our drivers apps to be silent. Our capacity for 2024 requires $6,742,800, to establish 258 transport hubs across the U.S. — 56 of these in densely populated swing states where high voter registration meets low turnout. Labor & Technology: Gap Need $480,000 November 2024 Voter Outreach: $5,550,000 gap to fill. Without this money Democrats who want to vote will not know that there are drivers available to take them to vote. Your support will make a powerful difference in our phones ringing from voters making their reservation and our drivers app buzzing. With only a few weeks left please give generously. ✅ https://lnkd.in/eBryaPrQ Like and Share to help us increase vote turnout , together we can turn America Bluer ! . . . #Debate #kamala #Eras #Elections #Donate #Democrats #Rideshare2Vote #TX #DFW #Harris #Donors #Vote2024 #Debaterecap #KamalaHarris

There is so much at stake in the upcoming elections for Black and Brown people beyond the presidential elections. Often we neglect the down-ballot races but policies at the state and local levels have been paralyzing for communities of color to make economic progress. This anti-woke rhetoric is simply code words for economic and political enslavement. We need to be determined to vote and be ambassadors to encourage others to vote for their best interests. This is the #FierceUrgency of Now.

My latest piece on election coverage ✨

No matter what services you provide, the outcomes of the upcoming elections WILL affect your organization. Register today for tomorrow’s virtual session (FREE for members) to learn how you can engage with voters, become a center for community mobilization, and ensure you follow the law as a 501c3. • The Power of Nonprofits in Voter Engagement: Understand the unique role nonprofits play in encouraging voter participation and how it can amplify your mission. • Navigating Nonpartisanship: Learn the critical Dos and Don’ts to keep your voter engagement efforts nonpartisan and compliant with 501c3 regulations. • Strategies for Success: Discover proven strategies and key concepts for engaging voters, from outreach tactics to educational campaigns. • Real-World Examples: Hear success stories and lessons learned from other nonprofits that have effectively mobilized their communities. Engagement Techniques: Explore creative and innovative techniques to motivate and inform your audience about the importance of voting. Register now at bit.ly/3WMgVbM or at AZImpactforGood.org.

For those interested in City of Portland politics, this website by Maja Harris has an excellent summary of the people running for Mayor and City Council. The Mayor's race includes three current City Commissioners: Rene Gonzalez, Mingus Mapps, and Carmen Caballero Rubio. At this point, any one of them should be acceptable for the business community; the current city council is strikingly more business-friendly compared to those during the Chloe Eudaly-JoAnn Hardesty era. It will be instructive to see which of these candidates is most willing to take on repealing some of the anti-real estate measures of the last 5-7 years - inclusionary zoning, the affordable housing set-aside, rent control, bird glass, etc. The fact that 3 of 4 City Commissioners are running for mayor isn't too surprising. Each of them has developed a city-wide constituency and campaign organization under the old electoral system, rather than ones that are neighborhood-based. The other commissioner, Dan Ryan, chose to run for a City Council seat in District 2 (North/Northeast). Identifying good, business-friendly candidates for City Council is a challenge, and I would appreciate comments where any of you have good information. In some ways, it's easier to find candidates who are anti-business. In District 1 (East Portland), for example, Candace Avalos, is an environmental activist who pushed the multi-member district scheme on the Charter Review Commission, that would allow a fringe candidate to get elected. She earned 11% of the vote in the race that elected Commissioner Rubio. The other 8 candidates filed are relatively new to politics. In District 2 (North-Northeast), Debbie Kitchin, owner of the real estate firm, InterWorks LLC stands out, along with Commissioner Ryan. Kitchin served on the Charter Review Commission. In District 3 (Southeast), former City Commissioner Steve Novick and former Metro Councilor Rex Burkholder are running and may win on name-recognition alone. Novick had a difficult time as transportation commissioner, promoting an unpopular street fee scheme before settling on a more traditional gasoline tax to fix roads. Burkholder was known as a bicycling advocate and opponent of road building in his years at Metro. It will take some research to see how their views have changed in more recently years. District 3 is probably the most left-wing district in the city, but there's an opportunity for a pro-business candidate to win the third place position. In District 4 (West Portland), there's a long list of first time candidates, but the website below has links to all of their websites. Notably, immigration judge and former Commissioner candidate Vadim Mozyrsky has opted for a County Commissioner seat instead of City Council. Again, I look forward to hearing your views and research.