Blog Topic #3

What do you know about the relationship between citizens and your CP? On what levels do they interact? How can citizen participation affect you CP- use the concepts outlined in your textbook to answer this question.

Ecumenical Hunger Program (EHP) has a very tight connection with its community. Although I have not had the pleasure of physically visiting their facilities, I can already see how much of a group effort is put into providing all the services for their families and individuals. The East Palo Alto communities help through their donations and volunteer work. Volunteerism is a form of participation where individuals or groups donate their time or money to a public purpose (Bowman and Richard C. Kearney 89). It is through volunteer work that citizens have the opportunity to participate in their community. EHP has operated for 35 years proving emergency services without government funding. The receive their resources through the donations of others. Having a mindful community has help with the success for the program. People in the community are aware that if something is no longer useful to them, it can be useful to someone else and they donate it. Although their primary focus is to providing food for those who are in difficult times, EHP has grown and adjusted with the needs of their community and now provide everything from food to furniture and clothing. They work along with other community organizations so they can ensure that they are offering the highest quality of services to their families as well as maintaining themselves informed of the needs the community may have.



Bibliography

"About Us: From Hunger to Hope." Ecumenical Hunger Program EHP Cares, n.d. Web. 27 January 2016.

Bowman, Ann O'm and Richard C. Kearney. State and Local Government The Essentials. 3rd ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012, 2009. 233-253. Print.

Blog Topic #2

Why is there tension between the state and local levels of government? In what ways is this tension healthy for our political systems overall?

There are many differences between the local and state governments; differences that cause a great amount of tension among the two. Starting from the year 1868, the creation of Dillion's Rule limited the power of local governments to those rights granted to them by the state or closely linked expressed powers (Bowman, Ann O'm and Richard C. Kearney 234). This rule set the stage for the type of relationship between local and state governments. The states have often attempted to limit the power of local governments because they want to retain the central power. The amount of power local governments are given is determined by the state and whether or not it wants to be conservative with their power. Some states make the decision of limiting the local governments power because they do not want to be over powered by a local government.

Local governments are allowed to create their own ordinance, which enables them to have their own set of laws; for example having different building codes (Bowman, Ann O'm and Richard C. Kearney 235). Many local governments hold on tightly to their home rule because it is a way to be in charge of their own affairs but are still subjected to state oversight. A way in which the state government reminds their local governments that they still are the ultimate authority, is by deciding to use the states funds to help with a national issue. The state can also issue state mandates. State mandates are often used by the state government to require local governments to implement a policy. States find these mandates necessary in order to ensure that goals are being met and vital activities are being fulfilled (Bowman, Ann O'm and Richard C. Kearney 238). States feel that mandates promote uniformity of policy and coordination. Although mandates must be implemented, local governments have adopted mandate reimbursement requirements, which require the state to reimburse local governments for the cost of state mandates or provided adequate revenue (Bowman, Ann O'm and Richard C. Kearney 238). Funding allocations are among the top reasons why state and local governments have issues. Local governments want to be given access to more money and the freedom to control how the money is spent with independence to raise it.

Tensions among state and local governments does not always have negative results. Tension among state and local governments can result in constructive problem solving and compromises. When issues arise state and local governments have the obligation to work with one another to come up with a compromise that will be beneficial to the state as a whole and its communities. Its healthy to have tension because it reveals issues that need to be addressed instead of individual local governments attempting to address them on their own.



Bibliography

Bowman, Ann O'm and Richard C. Kearney. State and Local Government The Essentials. 3rd ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012, 2009. 233-253. Print.

Blog Topic #1

In what sense did you 1st or 2nd choice CP arise from a local need or perspective? Why do you think local governments did not fill this need adequately? To whom is you CP accountable? Is your CP constrained or affected by Federal policies?

My second choice of Ecumenical Hunger Program arose from the local need for families and individuals that struggle economically and need emergency assistance. There are those who often forget that not everyone is as economically stable as themselves. Many people have the belief that each and every one of us must pull ourselves up on our own when life becomes challenging, but the fact is that everyone is going to need someone to help them out at some point. Not being able to have a home to go to or meal to eat it, is the cause for the development of volunteer programs that help assist the people who are experiencing that life challenge.  It is even more challenging when there are children and families involved. No parent wants to stress about not being able to provide for their family with the basic necessities of food. Families and individuals seek assistance when they economically cannot afford a full meal. Some may seek governmental assistance but are denied that help for various reasons. Some are denied assistance because they make "too much."

Local governments should be held responsible to ensure that all families and individuals have food in their system and a bed to sleep in. Families that attempt to ask for help are denied simply because their wages before taxes exceed the dollar amount that is expectable. Unfortunately the cost of living has increased by a great amount and although it may seem as if the families are making enough its may not be true. The number that is being looked at does not includes any other bills that need to be paid or other expenses a parent has to provide for their child/children. Wages before taxes are the cause for the limitation of governmental assistance. The regulations should be reviewed and other factors such as the cost of living should be taken into account. Until local governments question how to determine the assistance that is need, families will continue struggle and seek assistance. The government needs to reevaluate the budget and ensure that they are doing their best to make sure every individual of their community is receiving adequate assistance.