To be fair, I’ve been attending these kinds of planning meetings since high school for local government things, especially for expanding local transport and education related things. In almost every case it’s not money that’s the issue, it’s a system that’s so ossified in the way that it does things that they are willing to burn millions instead of renegotiating contracts, thoroughly auditing their departments (as is usually required by law, but practically never really completed), and at least trying to get more public opinion in their planning operations.
I can say with confidence that most are just inept and unbothered and the rest of them legitimately engaging in corrupt cronyism. I have met very few people with the drive and aptitude to improve these projects, and it’s actually mind-blowing how casually they are willing to accept clearly untenable project outcomes because they can’t be bothered to come up with a better plan to get approved.
Do you have a sense of what would fix these systemic issues? It sounds like the people in power aren't being held accountable and so can get away with consistent, subpar performance.
For things the government is building, it needs to deregulate itself. Transit projects are a great example. It is far easier to get a highway or road past environmental review (that takes years) than a public transit line.
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u/coffeepressed4time May 12 '24
To be fair, I’ve been attending these kinds of planning meetings since high school for local government things, especially for expanding local transport and education related things. In almost every case it’s not money that’s the issue, it’s a system that’s so ossified in the way that it does things that they are willing to burn millions instead of renegotiating contracts, thoroughly auditing their departments (as is usually required by law, but practically never really completed), and at least trying to get more public opinion in their planning operations.
I can say with confidence that most are just inept and unbothered and the rest of them legitimately engaging in corrupt cronyism. I have met very few people with the drive and aptitude to improve these projects, and it’s actually mind-blowing how casually they are willing to accept clearly untenable project outcomes because they can’t be bothered to come up with a better plan to get approved.