Decided to take a look at the website: Recovery.gov. I was interested to find a very detailed [to a degree] accounting of projects in almost every city of every state with precise amounts awarded. If one delves for more details you can find exactly which agencies and companies have been awarded project money, the scope of their project, and in general, how much has been completed. Any jobs saved or created are supposed to be logged.
What surprised me most is how many projects have not been initiated and therefore have not produced employment.
This made me wonder if the organizers had not received their allotment, were just sitting on it, or what? So I have asked the local newspaper editor to please consider having a reporter check up on each undertaking. I think local communities would like to know which companies and agencies have received monetary assignments, what the timetable is for each project, and the sorts of jobs that are anticipated to be saved or created.
I'd like to encourage everyone in every city to ask their editor to do the same. If we don't, you know some of this money is going to be lost in the mists of time and few jobs will be generated. Maybe we can keep them honest, so the money goes to long term jobs, not parking lots. Maybe you would encourage YOUR editor to look into it too? Consider it citizen participation in good government.














Comments (2)
Jean, you may have to take this project on yourself! You are a citizen journalist - and, I'm not so sure that the local paper will follow through. We'll see. More and more, though, citizens are having to gather their own information....
Great post and good to see you here!
Posted by Pamela Jean
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November 3, 2009 8:42 PM
Posted on November 3, 2009 20:42
Good post Jean. I'll be eager to hear back from you about whether or not your editor runs any investigative stories - and also - what you learn about your community. Please update us when you learn more.
Posted by Jerry Jacobs
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November 4, 2009 10:50 PM
Posted on November 4, 2009 22:50