Sunday, August 19, 2007

On Wednesday, August 22, from 6pm - 9pm, the City and its West Broadway advisory group will hold a Second public forum on West Broadway.

I hope the attendance is high, and diverse. However, the City picks the speakers at these meetings, framing the debate in an extremely partisan fashion. They have picked the facilitators and consultants for the advisory group from the beginning. They are trying very carefully to remove from the debate any criticism of the process itself. And, of course, it's the process itself that is the main problem. The City is spending rare public money on a parade of high-partisanship and disinformation, disguised as helpful non-partisan civic meetings.

Only massive participation by citizens will change the nature of this debate. And a "No" vote on money for destroying West Broadway in November, will stop the worst of the damage. That money is specifically intended for the anti-community, neighborhood-levelling developer from Portland, Tom Kemper. A "no" vote will prevent him from imposing his expensive, profit-driven apocalyse upon downtown Eugene.