Analysis summary based on common ground paper - Essay Example

Prescribed format. (This is not included in the formal draft to be submitted You have to write this form Background 2. Resources and positive thing and opportunities3. Negative aspects and challenges4. My thinkingHyun Ah JangDavenportEng 211Conclusion 1. BackgroundThe consolidated city (Saginaw and Saginaw County), lying in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan, adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of the Tri-Cities area, along with Bay City and Midland, has a total area of 18.

2 square miles (47.1 km²) with a demographic population of 320,196. Ancestral history and heritage in Saginaw is enriched by its first native American inhabitants, the Sauks and Chippewas. In fact, the name Saginaw is believed to mean "where the Sauk were" in the Ojibwe language. (Saginaw, 2010)Looking at its past, Saginaw was once a progressive city known for its lumber and automotive and other manufacturing industries (Saginaw, 2010). Today, people would like to know the factors why Saginaw was totally left behind, neglected in terms of socio-economic-political growth as compared with its other neighboring cities.

This paper attempts to present some valuable insights that may contribute later to a deeper situational analysis of Saginaw as well as cite and emphasize the missing elements that must be provided with full support and attention. 2. Resources, Strengths and OpportunitiesSaginaw is supposed to take the road towards change for a Better Saginaw. This means that all existing resources, strengths, opportunities as well as its exigent problems must be contained in a holistic plan that will address the needs of the city and its people and bring about changes that will chart its development.

Moving towards this route, Paoli and Sarah Pedini have already pointed out that Saginaw has the most important resource of all, its People, who they claim are inherently artistic and creative. Should these traits be properly harnessed, utilized, supported and linked with local and international based commercial businesses, these can bring significant revenues to Saginaw. They also mentioned that Saginaw takes pride in promoting its existing old ancestral structures like museums, natural wildlife habitats, spaces for productive cultural activities, parks, etc.

that could be developed to attract and develop its tourism industry. In addition, Dr. Chris Schilling, a research Engineer (SVSU) and also a resource person, expounded on the different potential resources of Saginaw which can be tapped and developed as new Saginaw showcase industries (e.g. combined wind- solar industry, energy farming and recycling industry) that will attract external investors who will bring more jobs and income to the city of Saginaw. 3. Obstacles and ChallengesLike any other city, Saginaw faces deterrent factors to its development as well as new challenges.

Greg Branchor, Mayor of Saginaw, a high political figure, is more concerned with solving the immediate problems confronting the city like unemployment, environmental issues, and most importantly, inadequacy of funds to start or continue Saginaw’s developmental projects. According to Mayor Branchor, there is but one foremost urgent problem that needs fullattention and immediate action. This problem has long been one of the causes why investors and tourists have stayed away from Saginaw and that is, the peace and order problem.

It was reported in print and broadcast media how conditions in Saginaw deteriorated as its population declined due to unresolved crimes and violence. G. Burns reported, “The consolidated FBI crime statistics in comparison with other cities validated that Saginaw still ranked No. 1 as the most violent city in America since 2003 to date” (Burns, 2010). If Saginaw becomes isolated and left behind by investors how can it move forward? In this light, Saginaw has to redeem its bad image with what it has become today.

It has to think of and implement strategies that would attract investors to put their businesses within the city to generate revenues, employment, infrastructures, etc. Another challenge for Saginaw, is the strong political will to implement its master plan entitled: Saginaw Vision 2020. How will they do it? That is the challenge.4. My ThinkingThis paper is written not only for the people of Saginaw like Dawn Morell, Steve West, the couple Paoli and Sarah Pedini and Mayor Greg Branch but for all other people who would like to dream to live a productive life on a peaceful, secured place where they can take their roots with great pride.

It compels me to write this article to share some insights, values, beliefs I have learned in the process about Saginaw and the situation it is in now. I believe that what I am about to write which is derived from readings, comments, empirical insights of other people and other reference materials ( print or electronic), share the same sentiments, values, beliefs with any other peaceful, country- loving Americans. Cognizant of these, I would like to establish that the issue here is can Saginaw regain its confidence to move on forward from where it is now?

Yes, Ibelieve so provided that it comes to terms with reality, its limitations, capabilities, resources, values, and ethics. For example, I learned from Luke and Bachand that “the city council has already drafted Saginaw 2020 Vision, a master plan containing the shared Visions of people in Saginaw on what they wanted to achieve for their Core Values, Economic Development, Education, Government, Quality of Life and Infrastructure, not to forget to mention, who or what agencies will implement such plan (Luke and Bachand, 2001).

From this I believe the next step that incumbent city council officials should do is re- assess the contents of the plan and determine what parts of the plan were already achieved and not achieved. After identifying areas or goals that were not achieved, it is also important to know the reasons why these goals were not achieved. Complementary to this, Saginaw must have good, proactive leadership at its helm to untangle and learn from whatever failures previous administrations had. If leadership does not follow the values and ethics of public service and remains to be corrupt, then no matter how good things are for Saginaw, things will never turn in its favor “for the common good” but will always be for the interest of a few.

I believe this could be checked through the democratic process of election. Secondly, Saginaw must curb the rate of crime and violence in the city and redeem its reputation. It was learned that crime and violence in the city heightened with the coming of American Africans to live with the white Americans. Strong racism continues to perpetuate to date. This is another area of crime and violence which the Saginaw officials have to look into and resolve through a strong political will that will forcefully implement rules and policies on this matter.

In the same way, full support must be given by the city council, in close coordination with the national government, to its local police, designated military and other newly created security forces utilized to attain a crime and violence-free environment for Saginaw.It is expected once it has eliminated public fear from the crime and violence issue, it can now pursue other developmental plans like strategies to undertake collaboration, joint ventures, build-operate and transfer (BOT) schemes and other inviting incentive packages that would ultimately attract and bring in investments, revenues and positive changes in the city.

As revenues accrue into the city’s treasury, then it is about time for the city council to start harnessing and develop its own resources as mentioned earlier. Following this flow of thoughts and limited knowledge as a student, I like to believe that I have achieved in this article what I want to achieve. In relation to Saginaw and what it will become, let me just wind up this article by citing a famous quote from Pres. John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

Thus, the future of Saginaw lies in the hands of its citizens particularly on how they will work to achieve what they want their city to become and where they want Saginaw to be.Works CitedBurns, G. “FBI stats designate Saginaw the most violent city per capita in America”. The Saginaw News. n.p. January, 2010. Web. 22 July 2010. Luke, H. and Bachand, L. “Saginaw County Vision 2020”. Lukevision. com . Saginaw County-Vision 2020. (2001). Retrieved PDF file. Web. July 22, 2010.“Saginaw”.

Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Mod. 29 July 2010. Web. 29 July 2010.