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Analysis of Brighton Town Government

Analysis of Brighton Town Government. December 2006. Danny Schwartz Democracy Inaction Professor Michael Arnush . Effectiveness of Brighton Town Government.

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Analysis of Brighton Town Government

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  1. Analysis of Brighton Town Government December 2006 Danny Schwartz Democracy Inaction Professor Michael Arnush

  2. Effectiveness of Brighton Town Government • Thesis: The effectiveness of a representative democracy in Brighton Town government is evidenced by the opportunities for citizen participation and the process by which citizens are involved with decision making for the benefit of the community.

  3. History of Brighton Town Government • Established: 1814 • First town meeting elected government officials • Williams, Helen. Sesquicentennial History of the Town of Brighton 1814 - 1964. New York: The sesquicentennial committee 1965. • Today all members of Town Board are Democrats. • Democratic town officials continuously elected for the past 17 years.

  4. Demographics of Town of Brighton, NY • Location: Brighton is a southeastern suburb of Rochester, NY • County of Monroe • Population approximately 35,588 residents. • Median household income: $52,066 • Racial mix: • Caucasian 86.1% • Asian 8.1% • African American 3.7% • Hispanic 2.3% • Native American 0.1% • “Census Demographic Profile Highlights. 2000. Brighton town, Monroe County, New York.” American FactFinder. 2000. Bureau of the Census. 7 November 2006. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet>

  5. Brighton Town Government Brighton pamphlet. Supervisor Office. 2006

  6. Citizen Participation • Voting for town officials • 8 volunteer citizen boards • Town Board meetings are very accessible to citizens: • Live broadcast on local channel 12 • Citizens can attend meetings • Use of AIM or call in during meetings • Unlimited amount of time to speak at open forum

  7. The McMansion Issue VS. McMansion Power ! NIMBY: NOT IN MY BACKYARD!

  8. McMansion issue: Decision making process Residents voice concerns to Town Board Town Board creates Task Force February 2006 Demolition Moratorium issued to halt further building demolitions Town meetings and open forums held to inform public of issue and allow for citizen comments Citizen comments incorporated into drafts for demolition regulations and site plans July 2006 Town Board adopted new regulations for addressing demolition of homes and site plan approval for construction of new homes First draft of Zoning amendments prepared by Task Force October 2006 draft presented for public review at Town meeting Task Force to review citizen comments and prepare second draft for vote by Town Board Amendments will be incorporated into building code

  9. Can we consider Brighton to be an effective democracy? • Organized legislative body • Competent leader with limited power • Equal opportunity citizen participation • Voluntary action • Means for keeping citizens well informed

  10. Limitation to effective democracy in Brighton • Citizen participation impact on legislation can not be objectively measured • Voluntary participation results in small number of citizens attending meetings and providing input compared to total town population and

  11. Citizen participation and impact on legislation Brighton compared to Saratoga Springs and Athens Saratoga Springs • Representative democracy • Citizen boards, city council meetings and monthly town hall meetings • Limited time to speak in council meetings • City council passes legislation Ancient Athens • Direct democracy • Assembly members “citizens” vote directly on legislation • Limited definition of citizen • Small segment of population makes decisions for all

  12. Conclusion • Modern day democracy in Brighton, NY has roots in the process of ancient Athens • McMansion issue demonstrates citizen and government interacting to make decisions for community • Brighton has characteristics of an effective democracy • Limitations to effectiveness • May not be possible to achieve a completely effective democracy

  13. Works Cited • A Demolition and Site Plan Review Local Law. 2006. 24 Oct. 2006. <http://www.townofbrighton.org/teardownfinal.htm> • Boards and Commisions. 2006. 19 Nov. 2006. <http://www.townofbrighton.org/boards.htm> • “Census Demographic Profile Highlights: 2000. Brighton town, Monroe County, New York.” American FactFinder. 2000. Bureau of the Census. 7 November 2006. <http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet>. • “Making democracy work.” The World Book Encyclopedia D Volume 5. Chicago: World Book Inc 2006. • Morrell, Alan. “Brighton Curbs ‘McMansions’” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. July 27 2006: 1A, 2A. Newsbank Inc. 4 Nov. 2006. <http://nl.newbank.com> • Pamphlet-Town of Brighton-Supervisor office 2006.

  14. Works Cited (cont) • Robinson, E.W., ed. Ancient Greek Democracy: Readings and Sources. Oxford: Blackwell, 2004. • Schwartz, D. Email to City of Saratoga Mayor Valerie Keehn. November 2006. • Schwartz, D. Personal Interview with James Vogel, Brighton Town Councilperson. November 2006. • Schwartz, D. Personal Interview with Sandra Frankel, Brighton Town Supervisor. November 2006. • Schwartz, D. Email to James Vogel, Brighton Town Councilperson. 30. Dec. 2006. • Schwartz, D. Email to Tom Lowe, Brighton Commissioner of Public Works. 30. Dec. 2006. • Williams, Helen. Sesquicentennial History of the Town of Brighton 1814- 1964. New York: The sesquicentennial committee 1965.

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