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Q&A
Craig Gurian on considering unintended consequences of charter reform while addressing current needs
1:29:23
·
3 min
Commissioner Sharon Greenberger requests that Craig Gurian and Eric Lane (via Zoom) elaborate on potential unintended consequences of their proposed charter reforms, particularly those addressing member deference and accountability.
Gurian agrees to consider this but advises against striving for a perfect, permanent solution, noting that political dynamics shift and charter revisions often respond to the problems of their time, requiring future adjustments as the pendulum swings.
- The commission is asked to consider potential unintended consequences of proposed reforms.
- Gurian cautions that charter reform is often a reaction to current issues and may require future revisions as circumstances change.
Sharon Greenberger
1:29:23
you both thank you all.
1:29:24
This is a request, really, I think, for Eric and Craig to think about.
1:29:30
One of the things that you have both mentioned, both in your written testimony and Eric in your verbal testimony, was the unintended consequences of changes or provisions that get put forward that create accountability issues or create a lack of collaboration that would be helpful in terms of meeting some of our overall goals.
Kathryn Wylde
1:29:50
I would ask each of
Sharon Greenberger
1:29:51
you to consider, as you think about you had said something here about the composition of the city council.
1:29:57
And Eric, I think you talked about ways that we can look at member difference differently.
1:30:02
If you can be more specific with at least an understanding of unintended consequences that could come from whatever suggestions you put forward or whatever suggestions you've also heard here, I think would be very helpful to us.
Craig Gurian
1:30:16
I'd be delighted to do that.
1:30:18
But I have one just very quick piece of unsolicited advice, which is a group which is serious like this, which is quite a refresher from what one sees on television and Twitter
Ericka Keller
1:30:39
We're real.
Craig Gurian
1:30:39
One of the problems that comes with that is this idea that you're going to nail it and you're going get it perfect.
1:30:52
And the reality and I think Eric would probably acknowledge this is the pendulum always swings.
1:31:05
And in that last major effort, now more than
Sharon Greenberger
1:31:15
Some decades.
Craig Gurian
1:31:16
Thirty years ago, more than thirty years ago, the pendulum swung away from executive control and to a much more robust, what was hoped to be a much more robust council.
1:31:30
So absolutely true, it's important to think about unintended consequences.
1:31:36
I will take my homework seriously.
1:31:39
But it's also the case that there will be council charter revision commissions in the future who say, well, now we have a circumstance where the council is feeling frisky.
1:31:54
This new council is feeling frisky about development.
1:31:57
And we have a mayor who doesn't want to do anything about and you're going to have to revise it again.
1:32:02
It's not like the platonic ideal of things.
1:32:06
You have to respond to political developments as they
Sharon Greenberger
1:32:10
No, Deb, we're just trying to do our best to anticipate what some of those swings could be and what some of the ultimate goals that we're trying to achieve are and how to balance those trails.
Kathryn Wylde
1:32:19
The emergency thing
Sharon Greenberger
1:32:20
that occurred
Kathryn Wylde
1:32:20
was a block in his Yeah.
Dr. Lisette Nieves
1:32:25
Or the other three negative votes, Moss
Kathryn Wylde
1:32:26
Because you could to the emergency situation.
Sharon Greenberger
1:32:31
If you put in certain guidelines.
1:32:35
Thank you.