If you have ever wanted to get the mayor's attention, he's offering you the chance.
Mayor David Kaptain will continue his efforts to engage Elgin residents on Monday evening during the first in a series of “community listening sessions” where residents can show up in person or chat online to express their views on city government.
According to the city, residents will send in their comments via the Internet. Those will be read to the mayor to address. According to the city, Kaptain hopes there will be more comments than questions, since the purpose of the sessions is to gather residents’ opinions.
Monday’s session will run from 7 to 8 p.m. in Lake Level Meeting Rooms 1-3 at Sherman Hospital, 1425 N. Randall Road. Residents also are supposed to have the option of logging in to the discussion, but those instructions apparently have not been posted yet on the city’s website.
The effort is in line with Kaptain’s stated desire to increase resident participation in city affairs through improved communication. According to the city’s website, Kaptain believes citizen participation and dialogue with those they elect is a cornerstone of transparent and effective local government.
Elected leaders are best able to represent the interests of their residents if they have consistent communication with all community members and are aware of their concerns.
Other Mayor’s Community Listening Sessions and live web-chats have been scheduled:
- From 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 11, at Calvary Baptist Church, 551 Arlington Ave.
- From 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 25, at Gail Borden Public Library, Rakow Branch, 2751 W. Bowes Road.
- From 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., 8th floor.
Residents can attend in person, or they can participate online by going to www.cityofelgin.org and clicking on “live chat with the Mayor.”
