Kudos to Geoffrey James, a Salem architect, for organizing a community meeting next Friday, October 18, 2013, Grand Theatre (191 High Street, downtown), 6:30 pm. Everyone who cares about the future of the downtown area should attend. See info below from James.
What makes this meeting even more important than it otherwise would be is that James recently met with the Salem City Manager, Linda Norris, and three other high-ranking City officials. Basically he was given a brush-off and told that the City wasn't interested in hearing what citizens think about the important issues below.
That's a horribly heavy-handed way for so-called "public servants" to treat the public.
Let's show the City of Salem that the people have a right to demand that they be heard, not ignored. Hopefully this Community Meeting will move us toward a City that listens to its citizens and makes decisions openly, collaboratively, and transparently. Here's info about the meeting:
Please do plan to attend this Community Meeting about a few hot topics.
1. Riverfront Park South Expansion is proposed by the "ULI Plan" [Urban Land Institute], and also by some local groups, in maybe some of the area west of the railroad tracks and south of Eco Earth and Minto Bridge, i.e. an area which probably needs more park space to accommodate more visitors.
2. The proposed completion of the Pringle Creek linear park through the Boise property is important to many folks, and we would like to see it accomplished.
3. The proposed $65 million Police Addition to City Hall. This really secret project is about to go out for RFP [Request for Proposal]. Folks are concerned about (a) demolition of Council Chambers and then rebuilding it and other offices on our Peace Plaza, and (b) the proposed removal of the sculpture and artworks. A basic question is: does the police department really have to be a $65M building project, or maybe should be somewhere else at a fraction of that cost, when most calls are north & east?
This is not a City sponsored event, and really the City has excluded the public from all of this.
Tell all your friends who may be interested. Let's discuss these issues, so we can tell City Council what we think.
COMMUNITY MEETING
Open to the Public
6.30 p.m.
Friday, October 18
At the Grand Theater
|
Ground Floor, 191 High Street NE Salem, OR 97301 |
Coffee, tea, snacks are available at Grand Vines on the corner.
Thanks to Carole Smith and Eric Kittleson for letting us use the Grand Theater for this meeting.
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