Blogs have been one of the powerful forces affecting and diminishing the power of the mainstream media. This has led to a flourishing culture of people who exchange or broadcast ideas regarding national issues. Pundits talk about the fragmentation of  the viewing public. Now, some enterprising netizens are taking this one step further—they are founding hyperlocal sites which permit citizens to post stories about their local communities.

Since suburban papers have been one of the few bright spots for print media, this poses a threat to their circulation figures but it goes beyond this aspect to have a broader pro—democracy effect.

These might very well become sites that serve as meeting places for citizens concerned about local issues. Like—minded people might come together in the form of meet—ups (think the Dean campaign) and form a  nucleus to push through changes on the suburban level.

In my local community the village trustees seem ossified and have seemingly chosen to frustrate every developer who comes to town with plans to develop our downtown. Every community around ours has re—developed its downtown, and generates not just more tax revenue but a more active civic life. Periodically, a letter is published in the local paper from someone with the same views.

Imagine a web site which can allow all people who have this view to meet and to plan how to make changes in their community. One can envision certain topics of interest that might motivate people to act: schools, taxes, suburban development. As Tip O'Neill said, "all politics is local". This development might very well apply make that aphorism come true.

Ed Lasky   1 15 05