For those who are not aware, I work near the mean streets of Tanasbourne, where I may occasionally be found shopping at the local Target or drinking some iced tea while munching on some chicken parmesian at any one of three local restaurants that serve the dish well or stopping for a quick bit of business at the local bank that has a partnership with my credit union. The area happens to be a peripheral region of Hillsboro, where I work, and neighboring Beaverton, where I live. Yet despite the fact that I work and shop in my county’s largest city, and live in the second-largest city of the county, I must candidly admit that I know appallingly little about the cities and their governments. Despite the amount of time I spend in Hillsboro, I think little and know little about their government except insofar as I see businesses spring up and a general appearance of economic health. I have not even been able to enjoy seeing Hillsboro Hops games with friends, as I wish to do, and which may at least show some civic pride in seeking to support local sports teams.

Yet despite my ignorance about the civic government of Hillsboro, there is a lot I would want to know about it. For one, the hilarious search for a police chief [1] went viral, and deservedly so. Any city whose use of taxpayer money also includes a great deal of humor and lets people know that the city wants it public servants to have a sense of fun is a city I want to be connected with. Even though I do not know how the city works, a growing city whose mean streets are suitable for yuppies, with a sports team (a minor league baseball team, and those are almost always fun), a large amount of jobs and a sense of civic pride is definitely something to appreciate. The fact that the city, and at least one person who works for it, wants my opinion about the city is remarkable, given that not many people want my opinion once they suspect that I will actually give it to them.

In light of that, what would I want from the civil servants of Hillsboro? Some ideas have crossed my mind:

A bit part in a funny city video like this one [2]
Singing the national anthem at a Hillsboro Hops game
A tour of the city in a police car, as long as no handcuffs are involved (perhaps even driving)
Getting to watch a city meeting that includes having one’s own official day in the city

Perhaps these ideas are a bit ambitious. After all, who among us is famous enough to have our own day in a city the size of Hillsboro (which is nearly 100,000 people at this point). What role would the city government have with the stadium (except that it is likely city-financed in some fashion)? Why would anyone want to film my goofy face? These are perhaps questions impossible or at least impolite to answer, but given the widespread ignorance about what it is that Hillsboro’s city government does, aside from authorize a huge amount of expansion and construction projects within its development zone, annex large chunks of land, and make wicked recruitment videos, it can’t hurt to ask for such things, I suppose. One can always dream that a sizable city would care about the ramblings of a loudmouthed blogger like myself, at least.

[1] See, for example:

http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2013/08/hillsboros_police_chief_recrui.html

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0i7yjabtBs8