The Future of FCN

The stadium issue appears to be resolved. What do you think FCN should do now?

How can FCN work toward positive change for Fremont? What do you think that would look like?

Some people feel that we need new representation on the Council, Planning Commission, even the City Manager. Is this a direction we want to move toward?

If we want to move toward new representation, would this take the form of a recall effort, or would we get involved in identifying and developing potential candidates, and would this lead FCN to become a political, rather than a grass-roots, organization?

Is there any interest in working with the City to develop a Public Participation Policy, or some other series of changes that would work on transparency, input, respect, and other areas where the City could improve their services to residents?

There are some local issues (Besaro Mobile Home Park, Patterson Ranch, others) that some people are interested in. Should we agree on one issue to address at a time; can we work on multiple issues simultaneously? If one issue, who chooses?

FCN must have a lot of e-mail addresses now; it would be a shame to let the established framework fade away. We might as well talk about what course to take.

If you have other ideas or comments on the future of FCN, please share.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tejas on February 25, 2009 at 9:16pm

I think we should work on a root cause fix. If we have competent and trustworthy representation in the right places along with decent public participation policies and procedures, we will not have to fight every issue.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by fremonter on February 25, 2009 at 9:27pm

I tend to agree that "root cause" is the way to go. If we have to go on long-term fighting defensive battles it will just wear everybody out. Of course, that leads to a discussion of what the root cause is.

On a more nuts-and-bolts level, I think the City could benefit from re-designing the Council chambers so they are more welcoming, or holding Council meetings in a different location. Their current design puts residents in the position of being supplicants before the altar of the Council, which is pretty off-putting.

Many thanks for being the first reply - I hope there are lots more so we can all figure out what everybody thinks is the right way to go. That's what "grass-roots" is all about!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tejas on February 25, 2009 at 9:49pm

fremonter said:

I tend to agree that "root cause" is the way to go. If we have to go on long-term fighting defensive battles it will just wear everybody out. Of course, that leads to a discussion of what the root cause is.

On a more nuts-and-bolts level, I think the City could benefit from re-designing the Council chambers so they are more welcoming, or holding Council meetings in a different location. Their current design puts residents in the position of being supplicants before the altar of the Council, which is pretty off-putting.

Many thanks for being the first reply - I hope there are lots more so we can all figure out what everybody thinks is the right way to go. That's what "grass-roots" is all about!

"root cause" issue is the current unimaginative, small thinking leadership. To some extent it is also voter apathy and lack of citizen involvement. The stadium issue got some of us out of our comfort zone. But there are still a lot who are not engaged. I talked to a guy yesterday who argued with me about the stadium without knowing that it was planned for Warm Springs. This is despite daily emails I sent keeping him abreast of the happenings.

Regarding the council chambers: I say function before form. Yesterday was the first time I stepped into city hall. What I saw wasn't that bad. It was much better our school buildings. If the council has the right brain power and attitude, I will support better diggs for them.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Deepak Alur on February 26, 2009 at 9:36am

Hi,
Sorry, I am a little late in responding to this thread.
This is just my opinion, not the entire FCN steering committee: FCN started as a grass-roots movement and will continue to remain so. The FCN mission statement is pretty simple and broad. We expect people who have those local issues to join and create their own 'chapters' and use the FCN social network as appropriate. All of the points that 'Fremonter' makes are opportunities to improve the working of this city and FCN is absolutely interested in that. But having said that, it is the people on this network that make the policy of what FCN should or should not do. Therefore, as 'Fremonter' says, please continue t share your ideas here.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by fremonter on February 26, 2009 at 10:01am

I think we're on the same page. When you say " it is the people on this network that make the policy of what FCN should or should not do", that sounds right to me. I hope this page will be a vehicle for people to indicate what they think that policy should be.

Can you give me/us a little more info on how one would go about starting their own chapter? Would these individually created chapters have access to the database of e-mails to send out messages to all members?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by fremonter on February 26, 2009 at 10:07am

Just a clarification; I don't want to spend more time and money re-designing better diggs for the Council. I just think their meetings could be held in a regular conference room (the City has plenty of them) where people's access to the Council members would be on a more one-to-one basis. Periodically, the Council could even meet in a public facility in one of the districts. The City has the ability to do video from other locations.

Of course, this is a small issue; the FCN really needs to think about the larger issues that we want to address.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Norseman on February 26, 2009 at 3:46pm

I think the FCN should go after Little Leage Baseball and try to run them out of Fremont as well.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Randy R. on February 26, 2009 at 3:58pm

Norseman said:

I think the FCN should go after Little Leage Baseball and try to run them out of Fremont as well.

Ah, Norseman, you've forgotten to renew your meds prescription again! Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dexter on February 26, 2009 at 4:07pm

Only if they're planning to build a a new stadium next to a residential neighborhood.

Norseman said:

I think the FCN should go after Little Leage Baseball and try to run them out of Fremont as well.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Deepak Alur on February 26, 2009 at 4:24pm

Norseman,
You are making callous comments. Perhaps you are not aware that there are little league coaches and parents on this network who are against the stadium proposal.

Norseman said:

I think the FCN should go after Little Leage Baseball and try to run them out of Fremont as well.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Murali on February 26, 2009 at 8:55pm

I think this is one of the right ways to take it forward. There are a few groups in Fremot such as
the Friends of Fremont (who put V Bacon on the ballot), and Friends of Coyote Hills (measure k).,
and such.

They are bright, have rational ideas, and if ALL these groups can function under the FCN umbrella,
for a few identified causes as we go forward, it will be an ideal platform to bring about positive change, and awareness in community.

FCN certainly has the momentum, and if FCN is the alternate to the 2 party hegemony in the city-hall,
it should be welcomed.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Norseman on February 27, 2009 at 1:13pm

Deepak,

I'm not making callous remarks. It's called irony. Anyway, the point being that the more people vote for their own NIMBY interests, the fewer place there will be for things like baseball parks. Once baseball parks are gone, what do you think will happen to little league?

I managed a little leageu team for 4 years in Fremont, and my kids played for 6 yeras each. I'm aware of what LLB is about. I'd also suggest that more LL parents and coaches are for the stadium than against, based on the fact that a pro-stadium mayor was elected.

Deepak Alur said:

Norseman,
You are making callous comments. Perhaps you are not aware that there are little league coaches and parents on this network who are against the stadium proposal.

Norseman said:
I think the FCN should go after Little Leage Baseball and try to run them out of Fremont as well.