Michael Sauers
April 14, 2026
My Dad used to say, “Put your money where your mouth is.” I have tried to follow his advice. When the Town of Bloomsburg suggested killing off the Canadian Geese that had become part of the Town Parks’s allure, I offered an alternate plan. Please see Press Enterprise letter, Don’t Kill The Geese, published April 15, 2022.
Recently, (April 7, 2026) the Press Enterprise published my letter regarding top down, outdated, economic development paradigms which totally ignore the hopes and aspirations of communities. The top down economic development model disregards the majority of voices in any given community. Their ideas and opinions do not matter to the unelected and patronizing crowd that huddles for control. Monied interests, land owners, industries and speculators dominate. At the expense of all they pull in corporate welfare on the local, state and federal levels. This is where they need our highly compliant elected officials who act like the proverbial Japanese monkies; seeing, hearing and speaking no ill will towards massive developments. They act like Pavlovian dogs when given the correct cues (tax revenue and jobs).
Talk about crony capitalism, if nothing else this is anti democratic. All of this should be on the ballot.
So, my suggestion is to develop community consensus regarding the future development of the community including economic development. How? Start by breaking the community down into Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPA’s). NPA’s are neighborhood advocacy groups. They hold weekly/bi-weekly/monthly meetings for residents to inform themselves regarding issues, including economic development. They provide input to local governments as they foster full throated communication between citizens and local officials. Each NPA shapes its neighborhood agenda and promotes inclusive participation and leadership. Every citizen is welcome to participate.
Effectively, it is a community conversation that matters. Everyone puts on their adult hats and acts in advocacy for the larger community. Decisions go back to the elected governing body. Many items are then put on the ballot! Walla!
If I were a younger man I would organize this just as Gerard Hoefling and I organized Greenfire Coalition. There are models throughout the country. It needs to be fleshed out but it is definitely doable.
This would be far more acceptable than having economic development plans shoved down the throats of communities. Lets’s get the boot off the neck of communities!