Something we specifically gave you.

I would also say a big intent of the Community Relations Commission is to have you help drive the discussion of what you think after listening to residents, talking to experts, what you believe are those issues.

So I really want to.

I mean, if you force me to, I would, but I really am hesitant to say this is the area I want you to spend the most time.

I I genuinely, I mean, we have a diverse group of people on this commission for a reason.

You're talking to all different folks and all different circles.

What are one or two common themes that you think you should focus on as a group that you continually hear in your you know social interactions when you're at neighborhood meetings, whatever that is, and help drive that here as opposed to me saying this is what I want.

I we drive a lot of the discussion at council and our aldermen do.

I I would love to see you guys driving more, like if it's a workforce piece, uh, you know, how are we getting more people into the trades that are reflective of our communities?

Whatever that is, I would like you to help drive some of that as opposed to me coming here saying this is what I want.

I'm a MacTimmer, I'd be happy to tell you everything I want, but I really do think it's important to hear from you about this is important to the committee and to help drive that.

Sorry.

Commissioners are there, yeah.

Well, you um you would apologize for taking so long.

We certainly appreciate your time.

Oh, throw the video.

I want to start with that.

We've touched on several things, and I'll try and encapsulate the questions I have.

Uh first off the bat, in our last strategic uh planning meeting, we talk exactly about what our accommission is and how this communication should work.

So I think this needs to be developed as a protocol.

So we have to work together on that.

And that's simply enough to say.

Um your last comment about advocating.

I had a meeting yesterday with uh uh significant developer in the area, and it's exactly what he said was that if you know when people come out with negatives, and the people that want to be against something are the loudest voice, and the people that are for just kind of sit back.

So we need to find out more of the things that we truly need to advocate for, and we need to be that voice.

So that's part of the protocol, I think, of working between this commission and the city and the council and and other players is what do we need to advocate for and what is on the table that we need to be aware of.

I think we're kind of sitting down here in a little black hole where we're not really aware of what all is going on.

Um to that issue, uh, like I say, I'm going to try and keep this very short, but you talked a lot about um development building, affordable housing.

Now, one of my challenges and one of my charges is to to try and develop um where we should fit into the opportunities and obstacles in affordable housing and building in Rockford.

And like I say, I had a meeting yesterday and I'm having meetings and I'm developing information.

But you've also mentioned a lot of things that I need to know more about.

So where do I, not just as a commission, but so that I can report to this commission, where do I go to get the information about what the city is doing so I'm not being redundant in my efforts of developing the opportunities and obstacles.

Who do I?

I mean, I know I was going to talk to Seth Summers about this, but you know, we I need to know what my best connections are to communicate with the city on this issue.

Yeah.

Uh I would say there's a number of different channels, uh, some easier and others.

Uh one, I do think uh Laura does a good job on our Facebook page to make people aware of what those areas are.

That doesn't get you all of your answers.

So I would say if it's uh housing or economic development, I would go direct to Sarah Lies.

She is our director.

She knows the importance of the commission.

She's been before the commission.

Um you now have that relationship.

If it is you're hearing lots of concerns, well, why did they pick this road in the Capital Improvement Plan?

You have Scott Director Scott Sanders to go direct to.

I think uh as commissioners, you I would genuinely just or generally just go to the department head that that falls under.

And if you ever have any concern, send me an email and say, hey, I'm want to know about this rebate program.

Who would I talk to?

I'm most happy to get you in connection.

It takes me two seconds.

You're not bothering.

That's why we have you and what we want done.

I would also say I look at I mean the loudest voice, it's really interesting.

I mean, I don't ever suggest reading the comments, but go to a post and just look at the I uh think of the likes and the comments.

There'll be 14 comments that are opposed to it, and that's the only people who have commented.

But there will be 200 likes.

And they have been silently just, yep, I like this.

And so I I mean, truthfully, I would not be elected based on comments.

Um I mean, no elected official would if you look at their pages.

Um I think turning some of those likes into a comment like, hey, this is good.