By: Diane Benjamin

What is government speak? It’s elected officials or staff who use terms you’ve never heard of before.

One example: Road Diet

That one was big a few years ago. It means narrowing the roads to slow down traffic. East Washington was put on a road diet so bike lanes could be added. Do you see more UPS and Fed X trucks using those lanes than bikes? The road diet means if a car in front of you wants to turn left at some random block, the only way you can go around them is to use the bike lane.

Another example: Potable water

After people have been in government for a short amount of time, this word is thrown around like they’ve used it their entire life. It means drinkable water – but potable must make people think they are more intelligent if they use it. It makes me think people have to lug their own jugs of water around!

My latest favorite is Missing Middle.

This one showed up at a Bloomington City Council meeting when a firm from California gave a housing presentation. Consultants from a state with unaffordable housing has opinions that should matter?

“Middle housing” showed up in an Illinois bill: HB 1614. From the bill summary:

Provides that, for all new development after January 1, 2026, each city with a population of 25,000 or more shall allow the development of all middle housing types on lots or parcels with a total area greater than 5,000 square feet and that are zoned for any type of residential use.

In other words, the State of Illinois wants to usurp local zoning for “middle housing”, also known as the missing middle.

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1807452

Republicans must not want affordable housing because none have cosponsored the legislation. Or maybe Republicans know the truth about this bill – it has nothing to do with housing. It is about the boot of government on the necks of local officials who aren’t allowing the destruction of single family neighborhoods to fill the “missing middle”.

Where does staff learn all the new words and terms? At conventions, trainings, and continuing ed classes you fund for them with tax dollars. They return with a new language pretending those words are common knowledge.

Staff should read this story: https://www.city-journal.org/article/how-public-housing-harms-cities

That story is from 2003. It’s still true. Government interference never solves problems. Neither does government speak.

I’m sure I’ve missing more government speak terminology, remember any others? Maybe “immigrants” when they really mean those here illegally