This emphasis on responding to — and working with — communities was a reminder not only of President Obama’s formative background as an organizer in Chicago but also of his prior experience with NYPIRG.

My understanding is that, on at least one occasion, the President has referred to himself as having been “a PIRG guy” in New York, just before he moved to Chicago.

That resonates; I was also a PIRG guy (ConnPIRG) in the ’80s. The PIRGs are an instrument for connecting citizens and college students, state and national initiatives, to advance the environment, consumer rights, and good government.