[Music] pollachi now you might be wondering why
pollachi now you might be wondering why
pollachi now you might be wondering why TEDx asked an American guy to come down
TEDx asked an American guy to come down
TEDx asked an American guy to come down here to Curacao to tell all of you about
here to Curacao to tell all of you about
here to Curacao to tell all of you about Curacao and if you’re wondering that
Curacao and if you’re wondering that
Curacao and if you’re wondering that it’s a good question so let me tell you
it’s a good question so let me tell you
it’s a good question so let me tell you a little bit about Mike yourself story
a little bit about Mike yourself story
a little bit about Mike yourself story um I first heard of carousel when I was
um I first heard of carousel when I was
um I first heard of carousel when I was about eight years old and I made a new
about eight years old and I made a new
about eight years old and I made a new friend guy named Alaric who moved to my
friend guy named Alaric who moved to my
friend guy named Alaric who moved to my hometown in New York and Alaric his
hometown in New York and Alaric his
hometown in New York and Alaric his family were from this island that I was
family were from this island that I was
family were from this island that I was pretty sure was called carousel um you
pretty sure was called carousel um you
pretty sure was called carousel um you know like like a carousel and it would
know like like a carousel and it would
know like like a carousel and it would be it would be a couple years before I
be it would be a couple years before I
be it would be a couple years before I figured out that the place that I always
figured out that the place that I always
figured out that the place that I always saw on maps down by Venezuela that i
saw on maps down by Venezuela that i
saw on maps down by Venezuela that i thought was called Curacao was actually
thought was called Curacao was actually
thought was called Curacao was actually the same island um so so anyway you know
the same island um so so anyway you know
the same island um so so anyway you know Alaric Alaric moved away we lost contact
Alaric Alaric moved away we lost contact
Alaric Alaric moved away we lost contact and so about 20 years later we
and so about 20 years later we
and so about 20 years later we reconnected on facebook and Alaric asked
reconnected on facebook and Alaric asked
reconnected on facebook and Alaric asked for my help he was working on this
for my help he was working on this
for my help he was working on this project a really big project this idea
project a really big project this idea
project a really big project this idea was that apparently there’s a massive
was that apparently there’s a massive
was that apparently there’s a massive refinery in the middle of the main
refinery in the middle of the main
refinery in the middle of the main Harbor in Curacao this is me a couple
Harbor in Curacao this is me a couple
Harbor in Curacao this is me a couple years ago when I didn’t know this stuff
years ago when I didn’t know this stuff
years ago when I didn’t know this stuff and they had this crazy idea to turn it
and they had this crazy idea to turn it
and they had this crazy idea to turn it into an e così and so we asked if I was
into an e così and so we asked if I was
into an e così and so we asked if I was interested in helping and so by this
interested in helping and so by this
interested in helping and so by this point I worked on president obama’s
point I worked on president obama’s
point I worked on president obama’s campaign and spent quite a bit of time
campaign and spent quite a bit of time
campaign and spent quite a bit of time organizing and i also i’m studying city
organizing and i also i’m studying city
organizing and i also i’m studying city planning at MIT so it was right up my
planning at MIT so it was right up my
planning at MIT so it was right up my alley I said yes and I came to the
alley I said yes and I came to the
alley I said yes and I came to the island spent six
island spent six
island spent six here in 2011 volunteering for greentown
here in 2011 volunteering for greentown
here in 2011 volunteering for greentown curacao so the more time I spent on the
curacao so the more time I spent on the
curacao so the more time I spent on the island my interest started to shift
island my interest started to shift
island my interest started to shift beyond just Isla and Scott the hot and I
beyond just Isla and Scott the hot and I
beyond just Isla and Scott the hot and I really you know I wanted to get to know
really you know I wanted to get to know
really you know I wanted to get to know cure some more I wanted to see the
cure some more I wanted to see the
cure some more I wanted to see the island as much as I could through the
island as much as I could through the
island as much as I could through the eyes of locals so you know if other
eyes of locals so you know if other
eyes of locals so you know if other tourists are getting steaks at bracha
tourists are getting steaks at bracha
tourists are getting steaks at bracha put in my my um I was I was down at now
put in my my um I was I was down at now
put in my my um I was I was down at now Keys uh getting getting getting the car
Keys uh getting getting getting the car
Keys uh getting getting getting the car go with frankly the first time a little
go with frankly the first time a little
go with frankly the first time a little too much of Madame Jeunet I wasn’t
too much of Madame Jeunet I wasn’t
too much of Madame Jeunet I wasn’t wasn’t quite ready for it but um and so
wasn’t quite ready for it but um and so
wasn’t quite ready for it but um and so anyway anyway you get the idea i I um
anyway anyway you get the idea i I um
anyway anyway you get the idea i I um you know I wasn’t at reef for it instead
you know I wasn’t at reef for it instead
you know I wasn’t at reef for it instead I was actually right here in murray
I was actually right here in murray
I was actually right here in murray pompeu and i spent some time getting to
pompeu and i spent some time getting to
pompeu and i spent some time getting to know the neighborhood and and you know
know the neighborhood and and you know
know the neighborhood and and you know really wanting to get to know the
really wanting to get to know the
really wanting to get to know the barrios of around curacao mesa kimi no
barrios of around curacao mesa kimi no
barrios of around curacao mesa kimi no kata bata new course audible.com oboes
kata bata new course audible.com oboes
kata bata new course audible.com oboes now
ma mama teen bozo isla Hopi douchey
ma mama teen bozo isla Hopi douchey semper than my corazon and one one more
semper than my corazon and one one more
semper than my corazon and one one more thing one more thing I don’t like to
thing one more thing I don’t like to
thing one more thing I don’t like to brag but um I make the best kushina in
brag but um I make the best kushina in
brag but um I make the best kushina in the state of Connecticut so if if you
the state of Connecticut so if if you
the state of Connecticut so if if you come visit you know there it is just
come visit you know there it is just
come visit you know there it is just just let me know so okay that’s that’s
just let me know so okay that’s that’s
just let me know so okay that’s that’s enough about me um when I first came to
enough about me um when I first came to
enough about me um when I first came to Curacao it was about seven months after
Curacao it was about seven months after
Curacao it was about seven months after ten ten ten so PI score so was was still
ten ten ten so PI score so was was still
ten ten ten so PI score so was was still brand new and it was really curse I was
brand new and it was really curse I was
brand new and it was really curse I was figuring out what being its own country
figuring out what being its own country
figuring out what being its own country really meant now as a city planner I’m
really meant now as a city planner I’m
really meant now as a city planner I’m trained in how to really look at cities
trained in how to really look at cities
trained in how to really look at cities and metropolitan areas and think
and metropolitan areas and think
and metropolitan areas and think critically about them ask questions and
critically about them ask questions and
critically about them ask questions and greater willemstad really fascinated me
greater willemstad really fascinated me
greater willemstad really fascinated me actually especially the 20th century
actually especially the 20th century
actually especially the 20th century areas beyond the historic core the way
areas beyond the historic core the way
areas beyond the historic core the way that the city developed first around the
that the city developed first around the
that the city developed first around the refinery with you know barrio after
refinery with you know barrio after
refinery with you know barrio after barrio right next to each other often
barrio right next to each other often
barrio right next to each other often very disconnected and then the way it
very disconnected and then the way it
very disconnected and then the way it sprawled way out into bond Arriba with
sprawled way out into bond Arriba with
sprawled way out into bond Arriba with the suburbs swallowing up little
the suburbs swallowing up little
the suburbs swallowing up little villages out there now up you know the
villages out there now up you know the
villages out there now up you know the end result is that willemstad is now one
end result is that willemstad is now one
end result is that willemstad is now one of the largest urban areas anywhere in
of the largest urban areas anywhere in
of the largest urban areas anywhere in the Lesser Antilles has well over a
the Lesser Antilles has well over a
the Lesser Antilles has well over a hundred thousand people and it’s
hundred thousand people and it’s
hundred thousand people and it’s basically a very disjointed city that is
basically a very disjointed city that is
basically a very disjointed city that is shaped kind of like a lopsided donut um
shaped kind of like a lopsided donut um
shaped kind of like a lopsided donut um and so anyway anyway anyway speaking of
and so anyway anyway anyway speaking of
and so anyway anyway anyway speaking of cities I have a question who in this
cities I have a question who in this
cities I have a question who in this room has been to a city called Amsterdam
room has been to a city called Amsterdam
room has been to a city called Amsterdam raise your hands okay this from what I
raise your hands okay this from what I
raise your hands okay this from what I can see looks like quite quite a quite a
can see looks like quite quite a quite a
can see looks like quite quite a quite a bit of the crowd now I went to Amsterdam
bit of the crowd now I went to Amsterdam
bit of the crowd now I went to Amsterdam and when I went I noticed a lot
and when I went I noticed a lot
and when I went I noticed a lot very charming old Dutch buildings I
very charming old Dutch buildings I
very charming old Dutch buildings I noticed parks and bikes and trams and
noticed parks and bikes and trams and
noticed parks and bikes and trams and you know a bunch of canals kind of
you know a bunch of canals kind of
you know a bunch of canals kind of winding through it very nice and then
winding through it very nice and then
winding through it very nice and then when I came to willemstad once again I
when I came to willemstad once again I
when I came to willemstad once again I saw a bunch of very charming old Dutch
saw a bunch of very charming old Dutch
saw a bunch of very charming old Dutch buildings and some lovely waterfront but
buildings and some lovely waterfront but
buildings and some lovely waterfront but I didn’t see the parks or the bikes or
I didn’t see the parks or the bikes or
I didn’t see the parks or the bikes or the trams I saw cars and cars and cars
the trams I saw cars and cars and cars
the trams I saw cars and cars and cars and which brings me to my second
and which brings me to my second
and which brings me to my second question for the audience getting to
question for the audience getting to
question for the audience getting to scar low tonight how many people came in
scar low tonight how many people came in
scar low tonight how many people came in a car let me ask how many people didn’t
a car let me ask how many people didn’t
a car let me ask how many people didn’t come in a car oh we got a couple great
come in a car oh we got a couple great
come in a car oh we got a couple great well my sense is if that if we were at
well my sense is if that if we were at
well my sense is if that if we were at TEDx Amsterdam and even if it was a
TEDx Amsterdam and even if it was a
TEDx Amsterdam and even if it was a really rainy cold nasty night the
really rainy cold nasty night the
really rainy cold nasty night the difference would be very different in
difference would be very different in
difference would be very different in the responses so my point in all of this
the responses so my point in all of this
the responses so my point in all of this is that willemstad doesn’t really
is that willemstad doesn’t really
is that willemstad doesn’t really function the way a 21st century should a
function the way a 21st century should a
function the way a 21st century should a lot of the time and it’s not just about
lot of the time and it’s not just about
lot of the time and it’s not just about transportation um you know right down
transportation um you know right down
transportation um you know right down the street here in in scar low we have
the street here in in scar low we have
the street here in in scar low we have the bibliothèque nationale and which is
the bibliothèque nationale and which is
the bibliothèque nationale and which is a beautiful library but it’s also the
a beautiful library but it’s also the
a beautiful library but it’s also the only public library building in the
only public library building in the
only public library building in the entire country um and so this struck me
entire country um and so this struck me
entire country um and so this struck me as odd I did a little bit of research
as odd I did a little bit of research
as odd I did a little bit of research pick the Dutch city at random to see how
pick the Dutch city at random to see how
pick the Dutch city at random to see how many libraries that had and so it turns
many libraries that had and so it turns
many libraries that had and so it turns out the brita has nine public libraries
out the brita has nine public libraries
out the brita has nine public libraries on one big library and eight branch
on one big library and eight branch
on one big library and eight branch libraries and that’s just for Breda so
libraries and that’s just for Breda so
libraries and that’s just for Breda so if you’re keeping track breathe on nine
if you’re keeping track breathe on nine
if you’re keeping track breathe on nine willemstad one so the big reason I think
willemstad one so the big reason I think
willemstad one so the big reason I think why willemstad underperforms as a city
why willemstad underperforms as a city
why willemstad underperforms as a city and it has to do with a uniquely weak
and it has to do with a uniquely weak
and it has to do with a uniquely weak system of government let’s face it you
system of government let’s face it you
system of government let’s face it you look at the Staton here and there are 21
look at the Staton here and there are 21
look at the Staton here and there are 21 members plus Minister presidents so
members plus Minister presidents so
members plus Minister presidents so that’s 22 elected officials in the
that’s 22 elected officials in the
that’s 22 elected officials in the entire country and they’re not tied
entire country and they’re not tied
entire country and they’re not tied any specific geography so you know in my
any specific geography so you know in my
any specific geography so you know in my country we have congressional districts
country we have congressional districts
country we have congressional districts here in theory all 21 members of the
here in theory all 21 members of the
here in theory all 21 members of the Staton could live on the same street and
Staton could live on the same street and
Staton could live on the same street and young teal and there’s nothing to stop
young teal and there’s nothing to stop
young teal and there’s nothing to stop that and and so you know basically what
that and and so you know basically what
that and and so you know basically what that means is that they have no interest
that means is that they have no interest
that means is that they have no interest in serving as a mayor and city council
in serving as a mayor and city council
in serving as a mayor and city council for willemstad because it’s not all that
for willemstad because it’s not all that
for willemstad because it’s not all that glamorous be responsible for fixing
glamorous be responsible for fixing
glamorous be responsible for fixing potholes in wishing marchena when you
potholes in wishing marchena when you
potholes in wishing marchena when you could be going on a trade mission to
could be going on a trade mission to
could be going on a trade mission to brazil instead um that is except you
brazil instead um that is except you
brazil instead um that is except you know if it’s a week before the election
know if it’s a week before the election
know if it’s a week before the election at that suddenly they get very
at that suddenly they get very
at that suddenly they get very interested in fixing potholes in which
interested in fixing potholes in which
interested in fixing potholes in which team are China but otherwise so so being
team are China but otherwise so so being
team are China but otherwise so so being being American being American I thought
being American being American I thought
being American being American I thought I thought that maybe this was a Dutch
I thought that maybe this was a Dutch
I thought that maybe this was a Dutch thing and so I started to investigate I
thing and so I started to investigate I
thing and so I started to investigate I started to investigate local government
started to investigate local government
started to investigate local government in the Netherlands and it turns out that
in the Netherlands and it turns out that
in the Netherlands and it turns out that Dutch cities actually have plenty of
Dutch cities actually have plenty of
Dutch cities actually have plenty of local government so you know they have
local government so you know they have
local government so you know they have broke masters like our friendly mayor
broke masters like our friendly mayor
broke masters like our friendly mayor here many cities are substance up
here many cities are substance up
here many cities are substance up divided into scottsdale in or boroughs
divided into scottsdale in or boroughs
divided into scottsdale in or boroughs like these in harlem and also they have
like these in harlem and also they have
like these in harlem and also they have Samantha rotten or City Council’s like
Samantha rotten or City Council’s like
Samantha rotten or City Council’s like this one in Amersfoort and I want to
this one in Amersfoort and I want to
this one in Amersfoort and I want to point out that amersfoort is about the
point out that amersfoort is about the
point out that amersfoort is about the same size as greater willem stop so why
same size as greater willem stop so why
same size as greater willem stop so why am i showing you all these pictures from
am i showing you all these pictures from
am i showing you all these pictures from Dutch city websites it’s to demonstrate
Dutch city websites it’s to demonstrate
Dutch city websites it’s to demonstrate the simple fact that they exist
the simple fact that they exist
the simple fact that they exist willemstad can’t have a city government
willemstad can’t have a city government
willemstad can’t have a city government website because it doesn’t have a city
website because it doesn’t have a city
website because it doesn’t have a city government and you know these Dutch
government and you know these Dutch
government and you know these Dutch cities are actually cities hamein t’en
cities are actually cities hamein t’en
cities are actually cities hamein t’en ciudad none with transparent and
ciudad none with transparent and
ciudad none with transparent and accessible city governments so you know
accessible city governments so you know
accessible city governments so you know I the question I’m asking that I want
I the question I’m asking that I want
I the question I’m asking that I want you guys to go home asking is why does
you guys to go home asking is why does
you guys to go home asking is why does amersfoort get to have a room full of
amersfoort get to have a room full of
amersfoort get to have a room full of commands Arad status Laden and not
commands Arad status Laden and not
commands Arad status Laden and not willemstad my sense here is that
willemstad my sense here is that
willemstad my sense here is that willemstad really deserves
willemstad really deserves
willemstad really deserves be the best city that it can be at a
be the best city that it can be at a
be the best city that it can be at a national capital for curaçao in in
national capital for curaçao in in
national capital for curaçao in in order to do that it needs to become a
order to do that it needs to become a
order to do that it needs to become a real city so one last point before I
real city so one last point before I
real city so one last point before I make my proposals and then close you
make my proposals and then close you
make my proposals and then close you know the Dutch created these local
know the Dutch created these local
know the Dutch created these local government systems to make the
government systems to make the
government systems to make the Netherlands one of the nicest countries
Netherlands one of the nicest countries
Netherlands one of the nicest countries in the world to live in and the simple
in the world to live in and the simple
in the world to live in and the simple fact is that it was never a priority to
fact is that it was never a priority to
fact is that it was never a priority to make Curacao a livable place for you
make Curacao a livable place for you
make Curacao a livable place for you course I’ll that’s not what this place
course I’ll that’s not what this place
course I’ll that’s not what this place was about historically for hundreds of
was about historically for hundreds of
was about historically for hundreds of years curacao was about exploitation and
years curacao was about exploitation and
years curacao was about exploitation and this is a simple fact so you know
this is a simple fact so you know
this is a simple fact so you know exploitation of people exploitation of
exploitation of people exploitation of
exploitation of people exploitation of land exploitation of resources and that
land exploitation of resources and that
land exploitation of resources and that doesn’t go away overnight you can still
doesn’t go away overnight you can still
doesn’t go away overnight you can still see this history of exploitation in
see this history of exploitation in
see this history of exploitation in almost every facet of curaçao in life
almost every facet of curaçao in life
almost every facet of curaçao in life it’s no accident that the three dutch
it’s no accident that the three dutch
it’s no accident that the three dutch words that i know in poppy meant to our
words that i know in poppy meant to our
words that i know in poppy meant to our sir madam and thank you so you know
sir madam and thank you so you know
sir madam and thank you so you know basically it’s going to take a lot the
basically it’s going to take a lot the
basically it’s going to take a lot the dutch did what they did here for better
dutch did what they did here for better
dutch did what they did here for better and for worse now it’s curacao job as a
and for worse now it’s curacao job as a
and for worse now it’s curacao job as a new country to chart a new course and
new country to chart a new course and
new country to chart a new course and one of the things that that involves is
one of the things that that involves is
one of the things that that involves is a new public administration so i have a
a new public administration so i have a
a new public administration so i have a couple ideas i’m running low on time so
couple ideas i’m running low on time so
couple ideas i’m running low on time so i’ll try to go through them quickly
i’ll try to go through them quickly
i’ll try to go through them quickly first I feel that Curacao should be
first I feel that Curacao should be
first I feel that Curacao should be divided into three comenten for the
divided into three comenten for the
divided into three comenten for the island a City of Greater willemstad
island a City of Greater willemstad
island a City of Greater willemstad going from suucks to santa rosa or
going from suucks to santa rosa or
going from suucks to santa rosa or roughly and then two municipalities one
roughly and then two municipalities one
roughly and then two municipalities one for bond arriba one for bond the bell on
for bond arriba one for bond the bell on
for bond arriba one for bond the bell on both sides and that each of these would
both sides and that each of these would
both sides and that each of these would have its own mayor to serve as an
have its own mayor to serve as an
have its own mayor to serve as an executive for that part of jurors oh and
executive for that part of jurors oh and
executive for that part of jurors oh and this is based on a former model from
this is based on a former model from
this is based on a former model from Barbados so you see Curacao there
Barbados so you see Curacao there
Barbados so you see Curacao there barbados had bridgetown and then a
barbados had bridgetown and then a
barbados had bridgetown and then a northern and southern rural district I
northern and southern rural district I
northern and southern rural district I have another bajan example which let’s
have another bajan example which let’s
have another bajan example which let’s see here deals with how to do
see here deals with how to do
see here deals with how to do local really local administration so in
local really local administration so in
local really local administration so in Barbados they have constituency councils
Barbados they have constituency councils
Barbados they have constituency councils now that they’ve set up 30 of them
now that they’ve set up 30 of them
now that they’ve set up 30 of them across the islands and so this would be
across the islands and so this would be
across the islands and so this would be equivalent to starts telling basically
equivalent to starts telling basically
equivalent to starts telling basically and they have local councils I’m
and they have local councils I’m
and they have local councils I’m proposing that curacao would have 35 of
proposing that curacao would have 35 of
proposing that curacao would have 35 of these 21 in willemstad seven each in ba
these 21 in willemstad seven each in ba
these 21 in willemstad seven each in ba reeba and bubble and then lastly in
reeba and bubble and then lastly in
reeba and bubble and then lastly in terms of changing the government of
terms of changing the government of
terms of changing the government of course we get to the big elephant in the
course we get to the big elephant in the
course we get to the big elephant in the room the Staton so my thought a couple
room the Staton so my thought a couple
room the Staton so my thought a couple things um is that you know right now the
things um is that you know right now the
things um is that you know right now the Staton just has this one body I think it
Staton just has this one body I think it
Staton just has this one body I think it should be two bodies it should be what
should be two bodies it should be what
should be two bodies it should be what they call bicameral and so a house of
they call bicameral and so a house of
they call bicameral and so a house of assembly would have representatives from
assembly would have representatives from
assembly would have representatives from each of the thirty five boroughs and so
each of the thirty five boroughs and so
each of the thirty five boroughs and so they would be locally accountable and
they would be locally accountable and
they would be locally accountable and then a Senate on the other hand would
then a Senate on the other hand would
then a Senate on the other hand would resemble the current stop so still be
resemble the current stop so still be
resemble the current stop so still be elected party list at large and so that
elected party list at large and so that
elected party list at large and so that that would still exist but it would be
that would still exist but it would be
that would still exist but it would be in a much smaller form than it is now
in a much smaller form than it is now
in a much smaller form than it is now and this is based by the way on the
and this is based by the way on the
and this is based by the way on the Pacific island nation of Palau has a
Pacific island nation of Palau has a
Pacific island nation of Palau has a system just like this and so you know in
system just like this and so you know in
system just like this and so you know in closing I mean what so what does all of
closing I mean what so what does all of
closing I mean what so what does all of this mean all these little ideas I put
this mean all these little ideas I put
this mean all these little ideas I put up well to me it means that mrs. Martina
up well to me it means that mrs. Martina
up well to me it means that mrs. Martina the next time she’s driving down said or
the next time she’s driving down said or
the next time she’s driving down said or four thrown away and she hits the
four thrown away and she hits the
four thrown away and she hits the monster pot hole for the fifteenth time
monster pot hole for the fifteenth time
monster pot hole for the fifteenth time and she’s really she’s really just about
and she’s really she’s really just about
and she’s really she’s really just about had it um that now she has a bunch of
had it um that now she has a bunch of
had it um that now she has a bunch of people she can call right she has a
people she can call right she has a
people she can call right she has a local assembly person she has a mayor
local assembly person she has a mayor
local assembly person she has a mayor who’s in charge of the area and she has
who’s in charge of the area and she has
who’s in charge of the area and she has uh am I missing um oh of course she has
uh am I missing um oh of course she has
uh am I missing um oh of course she has she has her representative and stuff so
she has her representative and stuff so
she has her representative and stuff so lastly I just want to say if we move on
lastly I just want to say if we move on
lastly I just want to say if we move on that high score sow is a tiny country
that high score sow is a tiny country
that high score sow is a tiny country it’s a beautiful country you need to
it’s a beautiful country you need to
it’s a beautiful country you need to care for this land and govern this land
care for this land and govern this land
care for this land and govern this land as best you can especially as best you
as best you can especially as best you
as best you can especially as best you can yeah i know i’m late because i’m
can yeah i know i’m late because i’m
can yeah i know i’m late because i’m finishing because there’s going to be a
finishing because there’s going to be a
finishing because there’s going to be a new generation of muchin on coming and
new generation of muchin on coming and
new generation of muchin on coming and they should also be able to have a
they should also be able to have a
they should also be able to have a lovely ride on this douchey carousel
lovely ride on this douchey carousel
lovely ride on this douchey carousel [Applause]
”
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