Blog: Marketing

The mayor's plan isn't extremely well publicized, but isn't hard to find with a search on nyc.gov: table of contents and executive summary (PDF). (Super executive summary: create a bunch of transfer stations around the city, including many of the ones that formerly existed to float garbage to Fresh Kills, some of which would package the garbage to be taken away on barges by private companies, and some of which would transfer it to rail cars. Many minority neighborhoods support this plan because it would reduce the burden on their communities, who often bear the brunt of undesirable facilities being sited there.)

But I can't find Gifford Miller's alternative. Did he post it on his campaign site but then take it down after the Council failed to override the mayor's veto of the Council's rejection of the Mayor's plan? (And what's with that anyway? How does the Mayor get to veto the Council voting no on something?) Or was it ever posted online at all? I'd love to know more to be able to better comment on the difference, but I can't do that if I can't find the plan. Update: I was able to find this press release on the City Council site, which gives a good overview, though I still want to see more.

If a group has a plan, they need to do a good job publicizing it, and that includes making it easy for people to find and read a concise summary. Miller's campaign site has "The Miller Plan on Subways" and other "plans", but those links go to speeches, not summaries.

On the Greenpoint/Williamsburg rezoning, too often the media coverage portrayed the city's plan versus a bunch of community activists who didn't want any change. The community actually welcomed development, but in line with their ideas for how the community should grow; unfortunately, that often doesn't come across. I won't let the activists totally off the hook, though; they have a great comparison page but where's the actual plan? Why can't I read it or, better yet, see pictures?

I don't need the North Brooklyn Alliance to provide a 28-page PDF with architectural sketches and environmental impact analyses. Those things are expensive to create (though helpful). But for people to be enthusiastic about your vision, it really helps for them to be able to imagine your vision, and the first step is being able to tell them what your vision is simply and clearly.