JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE
May 1981
Who is he? Who is the mysterious 'Spokesman for Jericho Residents' Association', who signs himself J.W. JAMES? He writes to John Patton, our M.P., to the Ward Councillors and to the city officials calling himself the 'Spokesman for the Jericho Residents' Association' - but he is not on the committee. That's for sure. The real members of the J.R.A. committee were all elected at a public meeting last year and no one by that name was nominated or elected.
There are several James on the electoral roll, but none with the initials J.W., nor is there any such entry in the telephone books:. There is no clue from his letters either for they have no address on them. So has anyone any idea who our shadow spokesman is? He must live in Jericho because he knows a lot about what's going on, but not all. But why all the undercover business? Come on J.W.J. - if you want to speak for the people of Jericho all you have to do is get hold of a proposer and seconder and bring them along to the Annual General Meeting on the 28th May in the Institute in Canal Street, and stand up and ask the public to vote for you. All the places on the Committee are open: the Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer and all the Committee are elected or re-elected every year. Straight forward public, first-past-the-post, democracy. And that goes for anyone else living in Jericho too.
If you want to take an active part in the J.R.A. and the affairs of the neighbourhood put your name forward. No need to elect yourself, just let others do it for you. What does being on the committee involve? Well, attending the committee meetings, which are held once a fortnight or so as often as possible. They are usually on a Wednesday or Thursday at 7.30 in the Canal Street Institute, and last about an hour. Then there are the public meetings called by the council or J.R.A. etc., and you may be asked to attend. Planning committees are held in the council offices. Your job is to bring the complaints and questions of your neighbours to the committee, which will then either write to the relevant official body or advise whom to write to or what other action to take. No under cover stuff here, just plain public service chores. No prizes either.