Why Public Debate?
Our city is changing, and so is Kensington Market. These changes affect people's lifes. Public debate is important if we want to maximize the number of people who are happy with the future situation in their neighbourhoods.
Currently, there is no good venue for public debates about Kensington Market, so here we are trying to fill this void.
Why is it important to have an OBJECTIVE forum for public debate?
In the existing system, issues often never get brought up until it is too late. This happens because:
- Only some of the stakeholders participate in any discussion
- Only the loudest person is heard
- There is not much continuity in terms of retaining information between debates. Often the same debate starts from the beginning every meeting because people don't have the full picture.
- Most of the stakeholders never meet each other and have to easy way to communicate.
- In addition, many times it requires a significant time-investment and extreme dedication for anyone to participate intelligently in any public discussion. There is no easy way for someone to "catch up" on the issues, because the required information is scattered and not easily available in friendly format.
When writing about law in the age of the Internet, Lawrence Lesig says this *:
"There is magic in a process where reasons count - not where experts rule or where only smart people have the vote, but where power gets set in the face of reason. The magic is in a process where citizens give reasons, and citizens understand that power is constrained by these reasons."
Soon after he adds this:
"When it works, it does something to the people who experience this persuation. Some, for the first time of their lives, see power constrained by reason. Not by votes, not by wealth, not by who someone knows - but by an argument that persuades. This is the magic of our system, however rare the miracles may be."
* From "Code and other laws of cyberspace" by Lawrence Lesig, Basic Books, pages 228-229
Why debate about Kensington Market?
- Kensington Market is a unique place that is loved by many
- There has been some talk about "changing the market"
- Many of the stakeholders don't meet each other much, and are not aware of the issues
Who should participate?
Residents, business owners, store owners, people who like the market the way it is, people who want to change the market, tree huggers, conservatives, greens, activists, drivers, punks, 905's, students, professors, developers, police officers, lefties, dancers, artists, street merchants, land owners, promoters, delivery people, gardeners, ravers, coffee lovers, vegetarians, carnivours, cool hunters, restaurant critics, accountants, importers and exporters, dog owners, soon to be married, recent graduates, homeless, trouble makers, politicians, armchair philosophers, and many many others...
What is I never use a computer or don't have internet?
Find a good friend who:
1) Uses the internet
2) Speaks English
tell him or her to type your ideas and concerns for you in www.kensmarket.com, or go to a public library.
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