Can we just get along?

[WorldNewsBot]

Throughout the last bitter consolidation effort, North Bend officials were adamant: 'Cooperation, not consolidation,' they said.
But on Monday, a cooperative effort recently instigated by the Coos Bay mayor was reduced to little more than an agenda item by the North Bend City Council. ..."

Full story Here

Do the cities need a communication committee? Do you think North Bend is justified in cooling talk with Coos Bay over a councilor's comments?

[Linda]

Sure I do if they think it was justified.

[Whirled Circulator]

Communication can be very difficult when one side shuts it down. Did they intend just to reframe the format? It seems that they were offended by a statement. Here's an idea - discuss the statement and the hard feelings - air it all, sort it out, and move on with communicating. What is the purpose of the retreat from communication? Are you punishing, or sqaushing a remark that you disagree with? As I read it there was a statement of "unfair" but was it untrue? Life isn't always fair but that doesn't mean that those in government shouldn't strive to work for the greater good.

This action just seems to reinforce the perception that North Bend is somehow threaten by Coos Bay as if there were some sort of imminent doom in going down the path of having a healthy working relationship between two cities. Are you operating on the notion of scarcity and fear? Or are you willing to be open to the more positive effects and possibilities of sharing and synergy?

Please North Bend recognize your fear and move beyond it. Isolationism, paralysis, non-comunication - being too sensitive, or whatever your problem is, you are capable of being bigger than that. Coos Bay will not eat you or make you dissappear.

Working together can make this community better and everyone inside and outside any of the city limits will see the benefits.