Since I turned 18, I have made it a priority to vote, and always have been proud of myself for researching and investigating the candidates for presidential, congressional and gubernatorial races. So what if I was completely oblivious about the local elections? I figured I could just skip those ballot questions and focus on the national issues.
That all changed a couple of years ago when I was jarred out of my blissful ignorance of local politics. I learned that a subset of the Cranston City Council was recommending a zoning change to allow a large gas station to be built literally feet from my backyard, which would negatively impact my neighbors’ and family’s property values, health and quality of life.
Some experienced community activists in my neighborhood were spreading the word through fliers and social media that there was a community meeting to discuss this proposed zone change. I awkwardly attended the meeting, not really knowing what I was going to say or do. I waited around to speak to the city council representative for my ward. He was very approachable and explained in more detail the proposed zone change and encouraged me to voice my concerns to the other members of the city council. So I crafted a letter that detailed my concerns, and after emailing the letter to each council member individually, I put a copy in the mail to make sure they got it.
There were a few encouraging responses, but we soon realized the majority of the city council was in favor of the zoning change and it would take a miracle to prevent it. A group of neighbors started meeting together to strategize and I joined them. We went door to door passing out flyers, set up a Facebook page and raised money to hire expert witnesses to speak at the public meetings. I even invited the council members to my backyard so I could discuss with them the impact this would have on my family. It was a true grassroots effort.
After about six months, I had spoken either by phone or in person with the mayor’s office and almost every member of the city council. Multiple elected officials and a news station even came to my backyard to hear out my neighbors and me.
Was this process time-consuming and frustrating? Absolutely! Did it make a difference? Definitely! After many many months, we got our miracle and the zoning change proposal was withdrawn. I am now fully convinced that local politics matter. Now I know it is important to know your local elected officials, attend a city council meeting, read your community newspaper to keep informed of local issues, join social media groups for your area and talk to your neighbors. You may be surprised to learn what is on the docket.
