09/27/09
Done That, and That, and That -
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Today the DMN says "Cities tackle requests from residents for wind, solar options." Anyone reading the story would think it's a bureaucratic nightmare to put up solar panels or a wind turbine (and in most parts of the Metroplex, it is). Even though Flower Mound, Southlake, Allen, and even our close neighbor Sachse are mentioned, there is no cite of Garland where we spent two years writing and approving a wind turbine ordinance — that received special recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency! Waxahachie, which does approve them with a special use permit, much like Garland, gets a mention but their ordinance seems more restrictive than does ours.
Below I mention that we often don't receive very much news coverage. The hard part of that is to watch some innovative program started in Garland by our hard working city employees that goes unmentioned while other cities get big write-ups for imitating us.
The most recent was blinking yellow left-turn signals. We've had them in Garland for over a year but our sister city to the west installs a couple and it's big news. No one calls to ask, "What kind of experience can they expect with that program?"
Our city clinic for employees saves the taxpayer a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on insurance premiums. It has been copied by Grand Prairie, Dallas, and others. Both of those clinics received mention in the paper and both copied our pioneering efforts. (That link also mentions another program in Garland that preceded Dallas by years but they made the paper.)
Our police and fire departments have a long history of specialized teams that lend their expertise and skills to other cities. The recent arrest of the young man trying to explode a car bomb in downtown Dallas was the result a joint task force that featured Garland participation. I've recently mentioned the leading role of Garland's Air Unit. Our swift water rescue team is often requested. It was a Garland robot that helped diffuse a Richardson situation where an armed man was threatening police.
Some of that phenomenon is our fault. In the late-60's when we said we didn't want exits of I-635, the world must have thought we wanted to be left alone or something. Also, through periods when there has been minimal local news coverage, the good word just doesn't spread far. More recently, we just haven't done much to let other people know what we are doing.
As I've advocated more than once recently, we have to do a better job of marketing our city. We have a lot of good news and there are people wanting to hear it.
We're changing that silence, so get ready world! The city is in the process of seeking responses from companies that would assist us in our marketing message and efforts.
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UPDATE: Comments closed to block spam hits.
[District 1 August Crime Stats] [Contact Numbers—City Departments]
[The DMN Garland Blog] [Citizen's Request Center]
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