THE MAYORS MAILBOX Heres what comes into my mailboxes each week: About 150 to 250 emails (yesterday the count was 41 non-spam messages) About 20 to 40 postal mail items About 20 flyers About 5 to 10 government documents (some are hundreds of pages and some are just single page memos) A handful of periodicals Its a lot to peruse. I say peruse because I simply dont have time to read all of this carefully. I have to choose which ones get a quick look, which get a thorough viewing and which ones get a response. (I think I write something like 25 to 30 emails per day) But the numbers only tell a bit of the story. Heres a sample of the items I received in the last few days: Invitation to attend events associate with the NBA D-League Showcase coming to town next week. Holiday cards from President Obama and Governor Brown (they came in a bit late!) An agenda packet of more than 100 pages for the next meeting of the Board of Directors of the SC Metro Transit District. (Ill be joining this Board later this month as a City representative.) A series of emails setting up a meeting between myself and several community activists concerned about the city purchase of an armored vehicle. And a half dozen more emails discussing this issue. A memo on the appointees to our city commissions and advisory boards. A monthly magazine highlighting governance issues and best practices from cities throughout California. About 30 emails from various city staff members updating me on a particular issue or item of business. A bulletin from the Chamber off Commerce and another from the Sierra Club. Reports from several community programs that receive city funding. A note thanking me for being a judge at the Harbors Lighted Boat Parade last month. A handful a congratulatory notes (for my election as mayor). A newsletter from a local school. My weekly levee report from the Leveelies. A bible message from a local resident. A few letters from residents objecting to a rate increase for curbside refuse pickup. Three letters from elementary school students with ideas for community improvements. An educational document with the latest legal and policy framework for city government finance Invitations to seven upcoming community events... and a whole bunch more email announcements of community events. Two requests for mayors proclamations. Several emails requesting specific information from the city or the city council. And a whole bunch of little emails arranging my participation in various city and community meetings. Oops... I almost forgot to mention I typically get about 50 more emails each week related to my city work in my personal email account. Whew! But its all worth it because once in a while I get an email like the one that came in this evening: the email contained info on my job as a tasting judge at the annual UCSC Chocolate Festival on January 18. (I hope to see you there!)
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 07:25:29 +0000