P.S. Neighborhood Organizations Politicized for Measure "G" Support
The Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee (PSNIC) is an official organization created by city ordinance in 2005. It consists of two representatives from each of the city's twenty-four recognized neighborhood organizations. PSNIC meets under the auspices of the City Manager's office and, according to that office is, "A vehicle for encouraging citizen involvement in government and improving communication between citizens, city staff, and elected officials". When adoption of the ordinance was first being considered, one serious concern was that recognized official neighborhood groups could be used for political purposes. Assurances were given that such would never be the case. Such assurances now appear to have been hastily made, for politicizing of PSNIC has now occurred.
Palm Springs city official efforts promoting ballot Measure "G", the Cable and Cell Phone User Tax, have added a bit of arm-twisting to their bag of tricks. The latest step is the politicizing of the Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee (PSNIC) by enlisting their support for Measure "G". The City Manager's office instructed its Director of Neighborhoods and Community Relations to disseminate a new multi-page "Measure G Q&A" advocacy document to all PSNIC representatives and their alternates. That distribution was made through official communication channels on Tuesday, October 13th. The accompanying message urged distribution of the document to all neighborhood organization members. The actual "Measure G Q&A"document includes a paragraph titled "Is Measure G a "bait and switch" ploy by the City", making it reasonable to conclude it is in part the City's rebuttal to arguments against Measure "G" that appeared in Sunday's newspaper. Enlisting PSNIC representatives to promote the city's efforts at passing Measure "G" definitely constitutes politicizing the neighborhood organizations.
If PSNIC is now going to regularly function as a political arm of the City Manager's office? Should the city ordinance be revised to prevent continued politicizing of PSNIC by city officials? What's to prevent PSNIC from being used to promote candidates for political office?
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
October 14, 2009
Palm Springs city official efforts promoting ballot Measure "G", the Cable and Cell Phone User Tax, have added a bit of arm-twisting to their bag of tricks. The latest step is the politicizing of the Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee (PSNIC) by enlisting their support for Measure "G". The City Manager's office instructed its Director of Neighborhoods and Community Relations to disseminate a new multi-page "Measure G Q&A" advocacy document to all PSNIC representatives and their alternates. That distribution was made through official communication channels on Tuesday, October 13th. The accompanying message urged distribution of the document to all neighborhood organization members. The actual "Measure G Q&A"document includes a paragraph titled "Is Measure G a "bait and switch" ploy by the City", making it reasonable to conclude it is in part the City's rebuttal to arguments against Measure "G" that appeared in Sunday's newspaper. Enlisting PSNIC representatives to promote the city's efforts at passing Measure "G" definitely constitutes politicizing the neighborhood organizations.
If PSNIC is now going to regularly function as a political arm of the City Manager's office? Should the city ordinance be revised to prevent continued politicizing of PSNIC by city officials? What's to prevent PSNIC from being used to promote candidates for political office?
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
October 14, 2009
Click here to view or download a copy of Measure G Q&A file.
Posted by Administrator at 10/15/2009 9:26 AM 
Categories: Opinion, City Council
Tags: Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee Palm Springs City Council
Categories: Opinion, City Council
Tags: Palm Springs Neighborhood Involvement Committee Palm Springs City Council
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