I've really never understood the fascination our government has with acronyms. To be quite honest, I find it troubling (turn on sarcasm now). I'm sure the government has devoted an entire group of intellectuals to create department names that will sound interesting once they have been turned into acronyms, like the Department of Urban Management and Business (sarcasm off). However, I have been introduced to a new acronym that I will be working on: CMOM. I could write home and say "See, Mom, I'm working on CMOM!" It's a stretch, but give me a break.
For those inquiring minds, CMOM stands for Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) regulations set forth by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). More information will come when I get my duties.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
A small thought...
Many people I have come to know in the MPA program will be graduating in May. Some of them are currently employed while others are full-time students (like myself). However, this raises a serious question in my mind: all of these individuals are gaining training in how to effectively run municipal government, but in the current economic downturn very few, if any, municipalities are hiring. In most cases, municipalities throughout the nation are actually firing employees, so where does that leave the currently non-employed, full-time student? I can remain optimistic and say that the state of the economy will improve by December (when I graduate), but the pessimistic side of me knows far too much regarding most municipal government budgets for the next fiscal year.
I've talked with some students at ASU and at other universities around the nation about their plans after completion of their MPA. Most have adopted the ideology of 'take whatever comes,' which I find myself contemplating almost daily. Others have said if they cannot find work they will simply enroll into a second Master's program until the economy and job market becomes better. I am an advocate for obtaining as much education as possible, but I also believe a good servant is one who has applicable experience and education.
Along the same lines as experience, I also find it frustrating that many municipalities are in such dire need of help but are not reaching out to ASU for assistance. There are many, many MPA/MPP students that are looking for applicable experience to put on their resume, with the skills and knowledge to assist any municipality, but they are not recruiting or asking for volunteers. For example, before I started my internship with the Town of Queen Creek back in October, I tried contacting the City Manager of Chandler to offer my assistance with any projects or day-to-day operations. I telephoned and wrote e-mails every week for over two months without success. I even had the assistance of Lloyd Harrel, previous City Manager of Chandler, personally speak with the current Manager about my desire to serve. Still, even with that referral, I did not receive a call back. I was not asking for pay, I was looking for volunteer work and experience. Don't get me wrong, pay would be a very, very nice incentive for a poor graduate student, but experience is definitely something we need alongside our degree. Come mid-May I will end my internship with Queen Creek and hopefully find either another municipality who will offer some pay for my services or I will extend my time with Queen Creek in another department to diversify my experience.
Overall, it's a great time to be a MPA student since we are learning valuable skills during a time of economic turmoil, which will teach us how to effectively manage municipal government throughout our lifetime. However, it's a terrible time for a MPA student to find work, especially in the public sector. Hopefully this will change...soon.
I've talked with some students at ASU and at other universities around the nation about their plans after completion of their MPA. Most have adopted the ideology of 'take whatever comes,' which I find myself contemplating almost daily. Others have said if they cannot find work they will simply enroll into a second Master's program until the economy and job market becomes better. I am an advocate for obtaining as much education as possible, but I also believe a good servant is one who has applicable experience and education.
Along the same lines as experience, I also find it frustrating that many municipalities are in such dire need of help but are not reaching out to ASU for assistance. There are many, many MPA/MPP students that are looking for applicable experience to put on their resume, with the skills and knowledge to assist any municipality, but they are not recruiting or asking for volunteers. For example, before I started my internship with the Town of Queen Creek back in October, I tried contacting the City Manager of Chandler to offer my assistance with any projects or day-to-day operations. I telephoned and wrote e-mails every week for over two months without success. I even had the assistance of Lloyd Harrel, previous City Manager of Chandler, personally speak with the current Manager about my desire to serve. Still, even with that referral, I did not receive a call back. I was not asking for pay, I was looking for volunteer work and experience. Don't get me wrong, pay would be a very, very nice incentive for a poor graduate student, but experience is definitely something we need alongside our degree. Come mid-May I will end my internship with Queen Creek and hopefully find either another municipality who will offer some pay for my services or I will extend my time with Queen Creek in another department to diversify my experience.
Overall, it's a great time to be a MPA student since we are learning valuable skills during a time of economic turmoil, which will teach us how to effectively manage municipal government throughout our lifetime. However, it's a terrible time for a MPA student to find work, especially in the public sector. Hopefully this will change...soon.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Time for a little soap box action...
This post will definitely go under a personal entry, so please bear with me. If you enjoy Jay Leno, then I'm sure you saw our President exchange joyous banter back-and-forth this evening. However, there is a good section of the American people who should be (and probably are) enraged at the words our President spoke this evening. I am speaking of any individual with a disability, I being one of those people.
So the scenario goes something like this. Leno asks Obama about his bowling game, which is known to be terrible due to his less-than-stellar attempt to be a 'common man' and bowl with some people in the campaign trail (bowling is probably too low-class for his taste, in my opinion). Obama smiles and says "No, no. I have been practicing . . . I bowled a 129." Obviously it's a cheerful punch at himself and his inability to play the game, and the people had a good laugh; Leno humored the President and said, very sarcastically "that's very good, Mr. President." But what came next was not humorous when the President said "It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something."
Honestly, what in the hell is he thinking? This man is falling from grace in my eyes very, very quickly, as without the presence of his beloved teleprompter Obama is very quick to throw both feet square in his mouth. But alas, Bill Burton, the bulldog Whitehouse Spokesman was quick with a rebuttal while in Airforce One:
So the scenario goes something like this. Leno asks Obama about his bowling game, which is known to be terrible due to his less-than-stellar attempt to be a 'common man' and bowl with some people in the campaign trail (bowling is probably too low-class for his taste, in my opinion). Obama smiles and says "No, no. I have been practicing . . . I bowled a 129." Obviously it's a cheerful punch at himself and his inability to play the game, and the people had a good laugh; Leno humored the President and said, very sarcastically "that's very good, Mr. President." But what came next was not humorous when the President said "It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something."
Honestly, what in the hell is he thinking? This man is falling from grace in my eyes very, very quickly, as without the presence of his beloved teleprompter Obama is very quick to throw both feet square in his mouth. But alas, Bill Burton, the bulldog Whitehouse Spokesman was quick with a rebuttal while in Airforce One:
"The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics. He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world."
Oh common, Bill. Lets be completely honest here. No one is going to buy the excuse of "offhand remark" when we are talking about poking fun at the Special Olympics, especially from the candidate who promised widespread change in every aspect of political and social culture. Remember, dear children, that Obama's comments are not "offhand" or even mistaken; this is a new low for the President, and these words are meant to be a blow to the disabled community. On the campaign trail Obama promised change for the disabled community in his Blueprint for America. In fact, he promised broad changes in order to end discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for people with disabilities (a bullet-point mark in his plan to "Empower Americans with Disabilities"; it's on page 3 if you don't believe me). Trust me, I read Obama's plan for the disabled community with great fervor, but now I am thoroughly disgusted. How can this pathetic excuse for a President seek to "empower" people with disabilities if he still stereotypes and stigmatizes people with handicaps and disabilities as less than average? Since his bowling game isn't up to par with some other Americans he feels it proper to link his poor performance at the level of those who compete in the Special Olympics? Bill Burton, you can create all the smoke and mirrors you want, but the disabled community isn't going to buy the absolute rubbish coming out of your mouth.
Mr. Obama: you are pathetic. You have built yourself upon a golden pedestal of 'change' and 'hope', but in only a few short words you have belittled and alienated some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. I ask all of you, is that 'change' you can believe in? If I really want to see a real apology from the 'President' I will see it come from his mouth, and his mouth only. If I want to see the President truly caring for the disabled community, I will see him volunteering at a Special Olympics rather than filling out a NCAA bracket in his cozy office. Words are cheap, and so is Obama's humor and his shots at the disabled community.
Fueling Station...put a fork in it...
An English proverb states:
All good things must come to an end, but all bad things can continue forever.
The municipal fueling station that the Town of Queen Creek wanted to construct, which had great intentions for the municipality, has come to a close. Stick a fork in it, this goose is cooked. The powers-that-be stated "the potential cost savings and projected break even point simply don't justify the up-front capital and ongoing maintenance costs associated with the installation of a Town fueling station at this time." This is all true. A fueling station would provide far more convenience than cost-saving measures, at this point, for the municipality. However, when the Nation recovers from the backlash of this economic downturn and Queen Creek becomes a hot spot for home and business activity, perhaps the research myself and many other performed will provide a fueling station when the time is right.
As for the 'bad things' in our little proverb, the Circle K gas will have to continue for the foreseeable 'forever'. Maybe the 'K' stand for Krap.
A Serious Talk
With the state of the economy gradually slipping day-to-day, unemployment claims increasing, and municipal jobs becoming ever-so scarce, this has caused serious reflection on my part. As I will be graduating in December with my Master's degree, I am wondering whether there will be any jobs available when I actually enter the job market? I have already sought employment while being a full-time student, but nearly every job I have applied for has caught the eye of at least 300 other fully-qualified candidates. Frustrating is the least emotion I feel right about now. I greatly appreciate the opportunity I have to volunteer my time at the Town of Queen Creek, as I am hoping this experience will help me obtain a job after my studies are over. However, in the meantime, living off my wife's $9/hour job, having my rent raised nearly $200/month, and viewing a depressing job market is going to make life even more complicated than it already is. Being stuck in transition between a full-time student and the desire to be a working professional is not easy
Monday, March 16, 2009
Public Administration Grade for the State of Hawaii
Today I returned from a 10-day trip to the State of Hawaii to celebrate a two-year wedding anniversary with my wife. This was a return trip for me, as I lived in Hawaii (on the island of Oahu) from 2001 until December 2003. Now frequenting some previous stomping grounds of my earlier years with the perspective of a MPA student, I must give a grade to the State and how they are handling serious issues.
Problem 1: Graffiti. I was literally shocked at the increase of graffiti that is plaguing the island of Oahu, especially the metropolitan area around the City of Honolulu. At nearly every corner I was greeted by layers of primer on public and private walls, building, and utility equipment; it was almost like a patchwork quilt from hell. Ironically, on top of all these patchworks of primer, freshly applied tags defiantly mocked the attempts of the municipality to curb the grotesque appearance of territorial graffiti. One corner I drove past every morning would be covered with graffiti, only to be painted over by noon, then reapplied with graffiti that evening. Rather than being on the offensive, the City of Honolulu is on the defensive, simply covering up (in a rather poor manner) the effects of graffiti. At first thought, the measures Arizona has taken to curb graffiti could assist this City greatly, but any type of intervention would help right about now. If the State of Hawaii fails to curb this aspect of urban blight quickly and efficiently, they may see a deeper decrease in tourism than they are already experiencing from a slumping global economy. Grade: F.
Problem 2: Budget Shortfall. Like most states in the Union, the State of Hawaii is not exempt from a ghastly state budget shortfall. Their shortfall is to the tune of $915 million dollars, which is creating quite a stir amongst citizens and bureaucrats alike. Also, like other states, the rate of home foreclosures are affecting the amount of capital the government can obtain through property taxes. So, in order to obtain the needed funds to balance the state budget, the legislature is looking at raising taxes, but the people digress from such ideas. The people of Hawaii do not want additional pressures placed upon them in an economy where the price-of-living is already through the roof (who really wants to pay $5 for a gallon of milk?). So the legislature is looking at other measures to gradually raise money in the forms of additional taxes and fees on the tourism industry. On services from hotel room to rental cars, the state would raise taxes and fees in order to obtain the monies with little affect on the residents of Hawaii, or so they think. Why the legislature thinks placing greater burden upon the tourists who drive the bulk of their economy is a wise idea is beyond me. In conjunction with the first problem and a slumping global economy, Hawaii is already seeing less tourists frequenting their island paradises. If the legislature does increase the price of people to visit their islands they will more than likely see an even greater drop in tourism than they are already experiencing. Regardless of the price of living, the people of Hawaii are not exempt from sacrifice in stabilizing their state budget. Some legislatures have been looking at raising sales taxes, vehicle registration fees, and even toll roads. Whatever the legislature seeks to resolve this problem, neither the people of Hawaii or the tourists to their islands should bear all the weight. Grade: D.
Problem 3: Crime and Drugs. This was also an issue when I lived in the state of Hawaii, but the problem is becoming even more serious. I was told nearly everyday from concerned locals and business owners to not leave any valuables in my rental car when I would leave it. You may think 'valuables' equates to wallet, purse, electronic devices, or luggage. This is true, but you may wish to expand your vocabulary to anything of value. Even such things as clothing and food will be taken from rental cars, as the ever-increasing demand for drugs will drive individuals to gain funds by any means necessary. ICE or methamphetamine is the drug-of-choice in Hawaii, and for anyone who knows the short- and long-term affects of this drug should know of the ramifications this will have on society. I did notice a greater presence of police forces in the public, which was assuring, but in the north shore and other remote parts of the State there was minimal police coverage (where many of the drugs are produced). Hawaii is, however, fighting a good fight. The community is also behind officials in seeking to halt the use of ICE in their communities, but they will need to implement stricter penalties and community education programs to effectively fight both drug use and the crime associated with it. Grade: -C.
I don't mean to be critical of the State of Hawaii because I love the history and culture of the people and land. However, officials are being presented with real 'mainland' issues and are seeking to solve them in an 'island' fashion. There can be no laid-back pursuit of solving these problems, and officials will need to make serious decisions which will inevitably change the way their State is maintained and run. Overall, the people would be wise to revisit their State Motto: Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono (The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness). Righteousness is still needed, but a little common sense and resolve will go a long way, too.
Problem 1: Graffiti. I was literally shocked at the increase of graffiti that is plaguing the island of Oahu, especially the metropolitan area around the City of Honolulu. At nearly every corner I was greeted by layers of primer on public and private walls, building, and utility equipment; it was almost like a patchwork quilt from hell. Ironically, on top of all these patchworks of primer, freshly applied tags defiantly mocked the attempts of the municipality to curb the grotesque appearance of territorial graffiti. One corner I drove past every morning would be covered with graffiti, only to be painted over by noon, then reapplied with graffiti that evening. Rather than being on the offensive, the City of Honolulu is on the defensive, simply covering up (in a rather poor manner) the effects of graffiti. At first thought, the measures Arizona has taken to curb graffiti could assist this City greatly, but any type of intervention would help right about now. If the State of Hawaii fails to curb this aspect of urban blight quickly and efficiently, they may see a deeper decrease in tourism than they are already experiencing from a slumping global economy. Grade: F.
Problem 2: Budget Shortfall. Like most states in the Union, the State of Hawaii is not exempt from a ghastly state budget shortfall. Their shortfall is to the tune of $915 million dollars, which is creating quite a stir amongst citizens and bureaucrats alike. Also, like other states, the rate of home foreclosures are affecting the amount of capital the government can obtain through property taxes. So, in order to obtain the needed funds to balance the state budget, the legislature is looking at raising taxes, but the people digress from such ideas. The people of Hawaii do not want additional pressures placed upon them in an economy where the price-of-living is already through the roof (who really wants to pay $5 for a gallon of milk?). So the legislature is looking at other measures to gradually raise money in the forms of additional taxes and fees on the tourism industry. On services from hotel room to rental cars, the state would raise taxes and fees in order to obtain the monies with little affect on the residents of Hawaii, or so they think. Why the legislature thinks placing greater burden upon the tourists who drive the bulk of their economy is a wise idea is beyond me. In conjunction with the first problem and a slumping global economy, Hawaii is already seeing less tourists frequenting their island paradises. If the legislature does increase the price of people to visit their islands they will more than likely see an even greater drop in tourism than they are already experiencing. Regardless of the price of living, the people of Hawaii are not exempt from sacrifice in stabilizing their state budget. Some legislatures have been looking at raising sales taxes, vehicle registration fees, and even toll roads. Whatever the legislature seeks to resolve this problem, neither the people of Hawaii or the tourists to their islands should bear all the weight. Grade: D.
Problem 3: Crime and Drugs. This was also an issue when I lived in the state of Hawaii, but the problem is becoming even more serious. I was told nearly everyday from concerned locals and business owners to not leave any valuables in my rental car when I would leave it. You may think 'valuables' equates to wallet, purse, electronic devices, or luggage. This is true, but you may wish to expand your vocabulary to anything of value. Even such things as clothing and food will be taken from rental cars, as the ever-increasing demand for drugs will drive individuals to gain funds by any means necessary. ICE or methamphetamine is the drug-of-choice in Hawaii, and for anyone who knows the short- and long-term affects of this drug should know of the ramifications this will have on society. I did notice a greater presence of police forces in the public, which was assuring, but in the north shore and other remote parts of the State there was minimal police coverage (where many of the drugs are produced). Hawaii is, however, fighting a good fight. The community is also behind officials in seeking to halt the use of ICE in their communities, but they will need to implement stricter penalties and community education programs to effectively fight both drug use and the crime associated with it. Grade: -C.
I don't mean to be critical of the State of Hawaii because I love the history and culture of the people and land. However, officials are being presented with real 'mainland' issues and are seeking to solve them in an 'island' fashion. There can be no laid-back pursuit of solving these problems, and officials will need to make serious decisions which will inevitably change the way their State is maintained and run. Overall, the people would be wise to revisit their State Motto: Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono (The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness). Righteousness is still needed, but a little common sense and resolve will go a long way, too.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
To Kill a Dust Cloud...
To kill a dust cloud takes a lot more than imagination or a vibrant Pecos Bill donning a magical lasso. Instead of the lasso, try water, chemicals, more water, chemicals, and even more water. On top of this, a massive amount of capital is also required, all in order to kill a dust cloud. After the dust abatement meeting today I was a little beyond disappointed; Queen Creek needs to act fast without the needed personnel or capital in order to fulfill the projects mandated by the State. We could really use a Pecos Bill right about now, but the final result will need a heavy dose of innovation; that is unless you've got Bill's phone number and could pass it on to me.
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