Summary: When a group of citizens banded together in Syracuse to fight a sewage treatment plant, it looked at first like a noble grassroots effort, but their efforts are failing.
I thought the peice was well organized. I really enjoyed the soundclips of the women. It gave me a specific voice from who is being effected by the sewage plant. I felt like it was also very informative about all sides of the issue. It was very careful not to be biased. I kept asking questions about the government. Where are they? Why are they not having a dialogue with the people? Why can't the citizens and government work together to create something that will be beneficial for the whole community?
The piece highlights the experiences and feelings of local community
members that have been affected by the creek and the sewage plant in their neighborhood. I felt that the piece as a whole kind of glazed
over the issue itself and focused more on the importance of activism
in a community. It seemed to briefly touch on or allude to how the local government overlooks the interest of the lower class communities. It was interesting to hear people that I have met speak and tell why the issue is so important to them personally. However, the narrator had a voice that was hard to listen to, which is crucial because they in many ways help carry the piece.
I think this piece is informative, but it is a little slow. It could have been a lot jazzier. I know this is a heated issue, so I feel like the producer could have found some more controversial voices. I like that the piece is exploring the issue of democracy, and how hard it actually is to make it work. It is sad that people are ignored in this country, even when they have legitimate issues. The piece did bring up some questions for me, though.
Would building the treatment plant underground pose any risks? Would it pollute the soil? Ground water?
The narrator says that people understand why the plant is being built where it is. What are the reasonings exactly?
I thought the piece did a very good job describing the political landscape surrounding this issue. I enjoyed hearing from the local Syracuse citizens in their efforts to educate and mobilize the public. I didn't realize that there was viable solutions, such as building the plant underground, that the City has been skirting around and not addressing. The conclusion of the piece leaves alot of questions, however. Can grassroots organizations make a dent against established political parties and incumbent leaders? This sort of environmental clean up issue has been debated for decades around several areas in the country, including cites in New York. Has there ever been an effective solution/compromise to the environmental of an area?
There is absolutely no reason why a station in Boston should air this piece. But what if there were numerous pieces from all across the US of A that addressed similar questions -- say, people near the military reservation on Cape Cod, where water quality has fallen subject to forces beyond their ballot box?
A good, solid story, well told. A potentially interesting use of the PRX model to provide new definitions for the "community" in community radio.
Comments for Democracy Yes, Change No
Produced by Scott Willis
Other pieces by WAER Syracuse, NY
Rating Summary
6 comments
[redacted]
Posted on March 17, 2008 at 10:11 AM | Permalink
Review of Democracy Yes, Change No
I thought the peice was well organized. I really enjoyed the soundclips of the women. It gave me a specific voice from who is being effected by the sewage plant. I felt like it was also very informative about all sides of the issue. It was very careful not to be biased. I kept asking questions about the government. Where are they? Why are they not having a dialogue with the people? Why can't the citizens and government work together to create something that will be beneficial for the whole community?
Stefani Quam
Posted on March 02, 2008 at 04:00 PM | Permalink
Review of Democracy Yes, Change No
The piece highlights the experiences and feelings of local community
members that have been affected by the creek and the sewage plant in their neighborhood. I felt that the piece as a whole kind of glazed
over the issue itself and focused more on the importance of activism
in a community. It seemed to briefly touch on or allude to how the local government overlooks the interest of the lower class communities. It was interesting to hear people that I have met speak and tell why the issue is so important to them personally. However, the narrator had a voice that was hard to listen to, which is crucial because they in many ways help carry the piece.
kalee rinehart
Posted on February 29, 2008 at 04:50 AM | Permalink
Review of Democracy Yes, Change No
I think this piece is informative, but it is a little slow. It could have been a lot jazzier. I know this is a heated issue, so I feel like the producer could have found some more controversial voices. I like that the piece is exploring the issue of democracy, and how hard it actually is to make it work. It is sad that people are ignored in this country, even when they have legitimate issues. The piece did bring up some questions for me, though.
Would building the treatment plant underground pose any risks? Would it pollute the soil? Ground water?
The narrator says that people understand why the plant is being built where it is. What are the reasonings exactly?
---Kalee Rinehart---
Peggy McWeeney
Posted on February 28, 2008 at 06:04 PM | Permalink
Review of Democracy Yes, Change No
I thought the piece did a very good job describing the political landscape surrounding this issue. I enjoyed hearing from the local Syracuse citizens in their efforts to educate and mobilize the public. I didn't realize that there was viable solutions, such as building the plant underground, that the City has been skirting around and not addressing. The conclusion of the piece leaves alot of questions, however. Can grassroots organizations make a dent against established political parties and incumbent leaders? This sort of environmental clean up issue has been debated for decades around several areas in the country, including cites in New York. Has there ever been an effective solution/compromise to the environmental of an area?
Aries Keck
Posted on October 13, 2003 at 09:22 AM | Permalink
Review of Democracy Yes, Change No
A good idea - but wish the piece was more compelling - using more natural sounds and building scenes to tell the story
Jackson Braider
Posted on September 26, 2003 at 06:49 PM | Permalink
Review of Democracy Yes, Change No
There is absolutely no reason why a station in Boston should air this piece. But what if there were numerous pieces from all across the US of A that addressed similar questions -- say, people near the military reservation on Cape Cod, where water quality has fallen subject to forces beyond their ballot box?
A good, solid story, well told. A potentially interesting use of the PRX model to provide new definitions for the "community" in community radio.