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New Chapter working on this chapter, October 21

City Hall


We arrived to City Hall.

How I remember City Hall. This structure was built about 2020 and was designed to be as green and environmentally responsible as possible. I was invited, along with dozens of others as interested citizens, to offer my thoughts on the design. What they came up with was a building that included a roof top garden, rain water catchment and passive solar heating.

We were amazed they actually used many of our suggestions. Ideas like this building looked radical to many 25 years ago, but now, these eco friendly features are paying off. About the same time as the City Hall construction, there was a visible upsurge in both commercial and residential buildings retrofitted with passive solar design, rain water catchment and edible landscaping as possible.


Some people were saying to “repair” as much of the built infrastructure as we could to make them more resilient could be an important part of a new green economy. As it turned out, that ideal was gaining traction but,,, then, just a few years later the economy faltered badly closely followed by social and political upheaval. The rest, as they say, was history.

So here we are at City Hall, 20 years later and conditions are far different than its designers and public could have imagined. Many city employees, BT, actually thought all that growth and development could go on forever. Interestingly, many other city employees BT did not think all that growth and development could go on forever. They had their jobs to do, bills to pay. Few of them ever shared their more progressive and prescient thoughts on official time.

Our Newbie group was gathered.

"Here we are. A week later. Nice day! Good to see you all again."

We came together for a short huddle. People working at City Hall who happened to be passing by joined in. Strangers were welcomed into a huddle, largely, because few people were really strangers. Everyone still alive over the age of ten had shared an enormously difficult experience that did serve to bond people, even people who didn't personally know each other.

Then, time to start greet the Newbies.

"As you remember from last week, we introduced ourselves and found out how diverse we are in terms of work and where we live – in the suburbs, almost rural, close in and in multi story buildings downtown. You all have responsibilities at your co-op and also are engaged in the apprentice program. Just about every apprentice position - commerce, agriculture, education, social services, land use has links to a program or department here at City Hall.

Last week we asked you to mention what office, program or department here at Community Hall your apprenticeship matches with.  So this week, we want to get an idea about how City Hall before the Transition became Community Hall after the Transition.  City Hall then and now exists to serve the community in many important ways. Thats a lot of different functions."


Let's just introduce ourselves again. Please mention, are we close in, suburban, downtown, almost rural and your apprenticeship. Let's start with Rita and pay attention, particularly to apprenticeships and which city department that's located in.

Ok

I'm Rita and live at the Mall. My apprenticeship is in land use.
I am Zora, Full Square, I am on a farm almost rural, apprentice in rural, urban relations.
Rabble here, Phoenix, suburban, safety and security.
Brendon, Maitreya, near downtown, community cohesion
Robin, Blue Sky, downtown, urban agriculture, particularly downtown.
Ed, 4th Street Co op, suburban, community enterprise.
Ralph, Far In, close in, Salvage.
Bridgette, Be Alive Co-op, close in, Cohesion and education.
Misty, living at Windmill, suburban, urban ag.
Gracie, Sequoia Co-op, close in, land use.
Hi, I missed last meeting, I am Azzie. I live at Second Chance co-op. Its suburban just south of downtown. My apprenticeship is in health and well being.

Ok, thats great. A lot of variety of interests.

I want to call your attention to the different apprenticeships and where they fit within community organization. It is community organization, based here in City Hall, that looks after coordinating important needs for Eugene, such as food, safety and security, education, utilities, land use, health, community enterprise, salvage, urban – rural relations, transportation, cohesion,

Each one of you has been asked to give an overview of the department you apprenticeship is located within. You are educating each other! Ready? Let's start with food.

Robin, will you start?



Please contact me with questions and comments.