Category Archives: Manifeso of Big Ideas

Ode to Mall Cops & Security Guards during September Appreciation Week

The general public comes and goes. So do mall cops and security guards.  Some guards stay for years, others work short stints & some are “no show” Shifts start at sunrise, others at midnight.  Double shifts are common, especially if there are “no shows” or a spike in activity be that good (a concert) orContinue reading “Ode to Mall Cops & Security Guards during September Appreciation Week”

Replace Mascots with Lower Tuition

With football season wrapping up, basketball season underway, and mascots dancing/prancing on sidelines and college tuitions keep going up. It got me to proposing that we ditch mascot hoopla and ditch tuition increases. I got nothing specific against mascots, it’s more about what they represent: It will take time for this sea change to takeContinue reading “Replace Mascots with Lower Tuition”

Time for a 3-way political intersection to unclog the traffic jam

So who are the players in this intersection and what’s in it for each of them? Fiscal Conservatives: Want limited spending. Emphasize ROI (return on investments). Focus upon practicality Liberals & Progressives: Want a robust social safety net. Want government to lead the charge in public policies. Focus upon promise and potential. Libertarians: Want limitedContinue reading “Time for a 3-way political intersection to unclog the traffic jam”

Odd but necessary bedfellows: Economic Engines & Neighborhood Empowerment

Definitions are in order: What’s an ecomomic engine? What’s Neighborhood Empowerment? So who are the “odd bedfellows” and how might there be a copasetic relationship? So that’s my suggestion after 30+ years working in the community development, economic development, community organizing, and afforable housing fields seeing what works and what does not. As always, letContinue reading “Odd but necessary bedfellows: Economic Engines & Neighborhood Empowerment”

Reflections on Life in general and Partners in particular

As the seasons change and the days get shorter, time marches on. I’m not getting any younger, in fact none of us are. So, on this meloncoly note, I offer the following reflections (to everyone in general and my kids in particular): Life in general: With regard to marriage, life partners, soul mates or whateverContinue reading “Reflections on Life in general and Partners in particular”

MAKER SPACE as Economic Development Tool

Malls are in decline. They decimated downtowns which lost their luster to the suburban lure of convenient parking and the perception of low crime. Now the malls have become victims of changing consumer habits (i.e, e-commerce, Amazon, etc.), changing perceptions (concerns about crime) and lifestyle changes. In sum, the hunter has become the hunted. YetContinue reading “MAKER SPACE as Economic Development Tool”

Sound Bites…Bumper Stickers…Food For Thought

As I reviewed my note pad observations of bumper stickers after working as a Mall Cop patrolling parking lots for 15 years, I present the following “gems” and observations. Note that they are presented in no particular order of priority . In some cases, they do not reflect my own beliefs/views. Note also that thisContinue reading “Sound Bites…Bumper Stickers…Food For Thought”

Common Denominators

The phrase sends chills down my back with memories of math classes and phrases like “solve for X” However, in the world of politics and current events, the viability of our democracy is at stake if we do not learn the value of Common Denominators. What follows is a lesson not in math but ratherContinue reading “Common Denominators”

An exit ramp for mass shootings and gun violence

The following is my proposed roadmap of actions which are reasonable and might bring together seemingly opposing viewpoints: Universal background checks required nation wide for all persons seeking to purchase a gun. Seems reasonable so persons with history of violence and/or mental illness/emotionally disturbed persons do not get to buy a gun. If you commitContinue reading “An exit ramp for mass shootings and gun violence”