To the editor: Re: "Rebel 'hoods meet to fight city hall," Aug. 14.
I am surprised and angered by planning director Brian Jackson's attempt to rewrite history.
In the story, he states that there were "40 to 60 opportunities for people to comment on the plans - through open houses, online comments, special events, oneon-one meetings with special interest groups," but fails to note that specific land use and rezoning plans were not mentioned at a single one of them prior to the publication of their draft plan in June this year. I attended and actively participated in every single event and yet even I was shocked by the degree of change that was proposed.
During open houses in July, Jackson publicly stated his recognition that the entire process had been flawed by a failure to properly communicate, and yet now, once again, he appears to be blaming the residents for their inability to respond to the planning department's so-called "outreach."
Jackson is well aware of the level of distrust with city planners that currently exists in Grandview-Woodland. Statements that try to rewrite history against all the facts can only exacerbate that distrust. This is doubly disappointing given the progress in his
understanding that we thought had been made in July.
Jak King
President, Grandview-Woodland Area Council
