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Another book, more advice, really? Do I need this? Well, here’s what one local resident said after reading my book.

“Lisa’s book, “Potholes, Parks, and Politics: A Guide to Getting Things Done Locally (without Having to Run for Office Yourself)” shows a depth of  experience, knowledge, and insight about how to solve problems at the city level and beyond. The awareness shared in this book helped me to re-sculpt an idea I was going to present to city government into a win-win proposal that helped to catalyze the action toward the problem-solving that I sought.

The win-win approach advocated in this book, along with other details about governmental process, can be applied to many situations in life—in all forms of organizational negotiations as well as personal and professional relationships. ““Potholes, Parks, and Politics” is a well-written, perceptive, and compassionate guide to navigating the sometimes-labyrinthine departments of government. You won’t approach your next project the same way after reading this book. And chances are you’ll have much more satisfying results! Thank you Lisa and Teresa for your fine work!”

— Laurie A. Baum, MSW, Psychotherapist, Resident of Encinitas, CA

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, added $67.9 BILLION to his net worth this year, during our pandemic. This is why I don’t sell my book on Amazon. I believe that every dollar I spend is a vote in favor of the organization I’m buying from. I haven’t totally avoided shopping on Amazon – sometimes it is the only reasonable alternative. But where I have a choice, I try to choose the option that moves the world in a more equitable and sustainable direction.

I don’t object to people getting rich when they figure out how to do something new and/or better. Bezos deserves some profit from his creativity and risk-taking. He also has obligations, though. He has structured his businesses to minimize any corporate taxes, and as such, he is not upholding his end of the bargain. His success was not a solo endeavor – he used public services and investments. The postal service, roads, school, public safety, national security, courts, scientific research, … all these are pubic goods paid for by taxes. And if Amazon and Jeff Bezos aren’t paying their fair share, the burden falls disproportionately on the average taxpayer.

So for now, I’m sticking with Etsy and my website, and the US Postal Service. It’s not necessarily the most efficient approach. It does, however, allow me to get out into my community to deliver books to those nearby, and to support a public institution, the postal service, on which we all rely.

Please help me in this endeavor by using the old-fashioned marketing approach of human beings talking to other human beings. Tell your friends and colleagues about the book, if you think it’s worthwhile. Encourage them to buy a copy and spread the word.

Let’s make 2021 a year of positive change, increased connection, and movement toward a more equitable and sustainable society.

I’m going to start offering some of the content of my book in short blog posts, now that I’ve conquered (at least a little bit) the mechanics of writing, printing, and distributing the book. Ready?

Lesson One: Define the problem; be flexible about the solution.

Before you can effectively advocate for change, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what your problem really is. What would make you feel satisfied enough to declare success?

In the book, I use several examples. Lee was almost hit by a fast-moving car when she tried to cross the street to take her dog to the park. Her first reaction was to march to city hall and demand a stop sign on her corner. Instead, she did some homework, talked to a knowledgeable friend, and even met with the city’s traffic engineer. She learned that stop signs are a bit more complicated than she realized, and might not actually solve her problem.

What she realized was that her problem was not the lack of a stop sign. Her problem was not having a safe way to get from her house to the park. And that problem could be solved in many ways, including traffic calming; a pedestrian-activated crossing so cars could move efficiently if nobody was trying to cross; or even better sidewalk connectivity to enable her to get to an existing safe crossing. By being clear about the problem, but flexible about the solution, she was able to find a way forward.

I have distributed about 150 books in the first three weeks since publication. Today someone shared an email inviting people to participate in a community meeting about a new housing project. At the end of the email was this:

“As an aside, the advice I have received is that taking a collaborative rather than a confrontational tone during the upcoming CPP and any interactions with the city may be the best way to put forward concerns, and have them be seriously considered.”

This is one of the important messages in the book. Whether the advice referenced here came from my book or some other source, I’m glad to see people downplaying confrontation as a strategy. May we all learn to bend like the branches of a tree when the wind blows. They don’t lose their attachment to their roots by being a bit flexible.

Check out this nice profile in the Coast News.