Notes from Session One - #UrbanHealth: Consider how people both those in governments and those that vote for them make decisions

Notes from Session One
Fantastic opening discussion at our first class session about an Age Friendly City and what was and was not happening in the City of Long Beach. We 'opened the lid' to many important conversations. This week we'll walk a part of the downtown with North Pine neighborhood leader, Carole Sergy. We plan to ask many questions!

In the meantime, check out a recent City Council Meeting where a housing issue was discussed. Go to the housing item #22 in the agenda and select, wait a few moments for the discussion to cue up.
22. (20-0019) Recommendation to direct City Attorney to prepare a resolution, and any related documents, for the November 3, 2020 ballot for voters to consider a $298 million housing bond at $25 per $100,000 assessed valuation for the creation of affordable....

Consider these points while you listen to the public comments and the council members.  What becomes clear to you or what might you assume about the person speaking and their decision-making framework?

• The person builds their decision based on relevant data
• The person has stated and unstated biases
• The person is looking for short term expediency or long term effect
• The person seeks a 'soft' behavioral choice or a 'hard' limit of future risk
• The person shaped the discussion, and possibly the outcome
• How close to the decision outcome was the person
• The person appears to offer a flawed idea or a wise trade-off
• Did the person offer what should be done

 These 8 touch points provide a way to listen and consider the complexity of an issue that is receiving public participation. There are many other considerations. What are yours?