March 21, 2009

RISC Winter Meeting: EPTA's William Murphy Encourages Engaged Citizens

Justin Katz

The second speech at the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition's Winter Meeting came from the East Providence Taxpayers Association's William Murphy, who focused on local-level movement building (stream entire speech):

  • RISC Chairman Harry Staley's introduction: stream, download
  • Murphy's opening remarks: stream, download
  • We must focus on our effectiveness as citizens: stream, download
  • Step 1 is to formulate our goals clearly: stream, download
  • Step 2 is to "offer the average citizen opportunity to constructdively participate," because "citizens have abandoned the public square": stream, download
  • The reform movement needs to strengthen local taxpayer groups — "we are learning in East Providence that shining the light on the process makes a difference": stream, download
  • Describing the situation in East Providence and suggesting that the solution lies elsewhere than on taxpayers' backs, but that taxpayers must be more involved: stream, download
  • Closing remarks: stream, download