I live in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina state capital, in suddern Brazil. Contrary to your city, we have a nice and sunny weather, 80% of the time during the year. The main part of the city, located on a continental island, with around 42 spotted beaches. How to commit people to get involved on the city problems ? We do also have a strong high tech industry, with many medium and small  IT firms. But, at the same time,  it's a capital state with not many other industries- but those of IT sector- with many  government facilities workers and a strong retail sector and a  fairly good and growing tourism business. At the same time the city has many, many problems , one of the main one being  a very  poor public transportation  system among others. A lots of politicians taking care of themselves and forgetting about the social and population interests. How to make the population and  the core thinking people get more involved? How did you do this in Seattle?