No Problem

First Law of Problem Solving

Where there is no solution, there is no problem.

Second Law of Problem Solving

If you have a solution, you own the problem.

Then there's politics. Politicians get elected by claiming they will solve problems others can or will not. Often they claim to be able to see problems others cannot even recognize. But what happens when an elected official elects not to see problems obvious to almost anyone else? Does the lack of acknowledgment which prevents any solution mean there really is no problem? Or do we have another, more serious problem?

This effect was made public in a recent post on a local blog (a post that is rather difficult to find). In this post, the author excerpted an article that espoused how wonderful Dunwoody Village is for the over 55 crowd, with its accessibility, wide sidewalks, great restaurants, live-work-play, etc. The article even provided a convenient web link: www.dunwoody.org. Now let's be clear, it was the original article author who mistakenly stated that this wonderful, walkable, live-work-play "village" well suited to the blue-hairs was actually located in Dunwoody, GA.

The issue is that someone allegedly familiar with Dunwoody Village, in Dunwoody GA, would confuse our village with the one described in the article. Wide sidewalks alone should be a clue to anyone who has ever walked around the village. And just where is someone "living" in the village. Yes, there is that fellow camping out in the truck camper behind the Chevron, but the bag lady is long gone and there aren't any residences in the village proper. Instead of a walkable village center we have a tribute to asphalt: Dunwoody Village PARKWAY. A rather bizarre four lane divided highway that is hardly a quarter mile long. And yes, the 25MPH speed limit is never enforced, but it has too many hills and curves for a proper drag strip, and we don't have a Shoney's to provide the proper before and after race party atmosphere. With Brewster's closed we cannot even conjure a proper "parking lot carnival" backdrop.

"So what?", you're thinking, "most blogs are all made up anyway...surely this one is." And generally, you would be correct. Most of this blog is made up. But what if someone did read the aforementioned article and conclude "this sounds just like Dunwoody Village by the farmhouse"? What if this person were in a position to actually identify and solve problems within our city? Is this the kind of "power of observation" that would support effective problem solving? Probably not.

Our beloved parkway is an excellent example. Were someone in authority to actually notice they would recognize several problems. There are four lanes, plus turn lanes, where two would easily suffice. There are no sidewalks whatsoever, let alone wide ones. There are no safe pedestrian crossings. All of these (and more) could be remedied. And this is just one small patch o' pavement in Dunwoody.

So we have a real, fundamental problem. We have a Mayor and City Council so blinded by self adulation that they cannot effectively serve the public. Given there is a problem, there must be a solution, and it is simple: it is job of every voter in Dunwoody to elect a Mayor and Council that can see and fix the obvious problems we have in our city.