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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Police Reports Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Ashland High grad among featured Hip-Hop Poetry performers at Oregon Shakespeare Festival open mic event Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Education Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Teacher's Tips: Who gets to teach history? Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Blazers fight back, edge Jazz Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory High school Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, March 27 Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Arthur I. Cyr: The legacy of Singapore’s leader Lee Kwan Yew The rest of the story Our View: Build it; they will play Editorial Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Columns Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Arthur I. Cyr: The legacy of Singapore’s leader Lee Kwan Yew The rest of the story Council Corner: Getting to yes or no — or maybe Chris Honoré: 'Like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out ...' Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Theater Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Ticket Availability Music Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies (No heading) Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day App Finder: Best barbecue apps Inner Peace: The good, the bad and the spiritual Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious David Murdock: ZOOOOOOOOOM! Life is like a roller coaster Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? ... Ashland Calendar: Friday, March 27 ... Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? ... Ashland Calendar: Friday, March 27 ... Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion ... COUNCIL CORNER Council Corner: Getting to yes or no — or maybe By John Stromberg DailyTidings.com By John Stromberg Posted Mar. 24, 2015 @ 12:01 am By John Stromberg Posted Mar. 24, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> F or Regina Ayers, who likes knowing more about what goes on in the City Council: I really listen when citizens speak during public input. I listen because I’m interested, and because it’s a very direct way I can make local government better. But what do I think about what you say? And how do I react? Well, it depends … First, I try to discern whether you understand the issue. Often speakers don’t really grasp their issue and sometimes even argue against their own interests. The experience is surreal, but it’s really our fault if the public doesn’t fully understand an issue. Usually we try to correct the misunderstandings so a rational conversation can take place, but that can take a while, especially if we don’t understand the issue that well ourselves. (The life of a public official is full of paradoxes.) I think the expectation — of not only wanting to appear competent but also to be competent — is a natural part of being an elected official. The artful thing is to own your own limitations in a way that engages people and inspires confidence. I hope all of us on the council and supporting the council aspire to create an accurate factual framework for every issue ahead of time, so the public can be prepared. Unfortunately so many issues and decisions come before us that we regularly fail to do so. Also it takes time, thoughtfulness, putting yourself in the citizen’s shoes, going out and inspecting the issue in the field, good writing skills and plenty of free time. But let’s get back to my personal experience of public input. I have to say Ashland residents are extraordinarily articulate about subjects that are important to them. The written and spoken input on the Airbnb issue for our March 17 meeting was phenomenal. And this brings us to rhetoric versus authentic expression. For me it comes down to the difference between communicating with the intent to persuade and communicating with the intent to discover reality. When you, the public, try to influence us, the council, by piling up every conceivable argument in favor of your position and, often, debunking, devaluing and deconstructing the opposing position, it is very hard to incorporate what you say into a good decision. Help us understand the real reason(s) for your position and we will have a better chance of creating a decision that will address those concerns in a fair way. Council decisions are exercises in equity, but also, I hope, in creativity. And creativity often has to do with process: taking a preliminary step or doing a pilot project. It also has to do with communication, and especially listening and probing to really find out what another person is experiencing. And effective listening involves expressing back to the other person enough of his or her position that demonstrates you’ve got it right. Sometimes, when you all sit down side by side in the council chambers and, two by two, at the speaker’s table, you actually listen to each other. It’s from the side, not face to face. And maybe that’s a good idea, because we don’t get to counter each other’s statements and argue things out. Then the council soaks up the whole body of input, plus what the councilors read ahead of time, and starts picking its way through the issue toward a conclusion — yes or no, or maybe (in the words of Oregon poet William Stafford) — and eventually, with luck, gets so immersed that the council takes it on as a group. You can sometimes see them shift into this mode: they pause and listen to each other, and reflect, and try out possibilities to search for a bridge across differences. This is when I think the council is truly deliberating, and it makes me smile inside. It may not always make you smile, but I think citizens who can communicate as well as the citizens of this fair city will appreciate the value of genuine deliberation and eventually recognize that it is truly in the public interest. John Stromberg is mayor of Ashland.    By John Stromberg DailyTidings.com By John Stromberg Posted Mar. 24, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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