Listening First: What Avenida Park Revealed

A Meet & Greet should not be a campaign speech with refreshments.

It should be a conversation.

That was the idea behind Saturday's gathering at Avenida Park.

Residents came with questions about development, infrastructure, traffic, public safety, neighborhood quality of life and the decisions shaping Ontario's future.

They were encouraged to ask them.

Some questions were easy.

Others required explaining how city government actually works — including which decisions belong to the City Council, which fall within the Planning Commission, which responsibilities belong to city departments and where regional or private-sector decisions begin.

That distinction matters.

Residents deserve more than an answer that sounds good.

They deserve to understand why something happens, who is responsible for it and what city government can realistically do about it.

That was reflected in the feedback following the meeting.

One attendee wrote that the conversation had helped put "a lot of Ontarians' minds at ease."

Another described seeing "genuine concerns" and "the heart of a servant leader."

Another simply wrote:

"Great job! You hit on everything."

Perhaps the most meaningful feedback came from a resident who had attended Meet & Greets held by other candidates.

He said he appreciated receiving clear ideas and explanations that he felt had been missing elsewhere.

That is exactly what these conversations are supposed to accomplish.

People do not have to agree on every issue.

They should, however, be able to leave a conversation understanding the choices facing their city.

Ontario is growing rapidly. With that growth come legitimate concerns about warehouses, traffic, roads, schools, parks, public safety, infrastructure and the character of neighborhoods.

Those issues cannot be reduced to slogans.

Some require balancing competing interests. Others require understanding long-term plans that began decades ago. Still others involve agencies or private companies beyond City Hall's direct control.

Good leadership means being willing to explain those differences rather than exploiting the confusion surrounding them.

Saturday was not about delivering a long speech.

It was about neighbors asking questions.

Listening.

Explaining.

And occasionally saying, "I need to look further into that."

That is the kind of civic conversation Ontario needs more of.

Because residents should never have to choose between being heard and being informed.

They deserve both.