Ask the Mayor to stop this deal. Parks reports to him. He has the power to stop it. Below is an example of one email. There are so many issues to raise, and everyone is moved by a different piece. What moves you? Ask the Mayor to use his power to end this now. Email jsuthers@springsgov.com and be sure to copy these people for transparency: AllCouncil@springsgov.com, news@csindy.com,news@kktv.com,foxnews@fox21news.com,news@koaa.com,krdonews@krdo.com, friendsofcheyennecanon@gmail.com,cory@medwheel.org, savecheyennemountain@gmail.com,jpaul@denverpost.com,miguel.bustillo@wsj.com,jim.carlton@wsj.com,news-tips@nytimes.com,scoop@huffingtonpost.com,lryckman@denverpost.com Reprinted with permission. Good morning Mayor Suthers, Though you gave a "win-win" endorsement at the beginning of this process, we have not heard much from you since. Are you aware of the outrage over the Broadmoor Land Swap? What do you think about this widespread discontent? Though there are many questions, the most pressing one is that the Parks Department, who reports to you, seems unwilling to release the appraisal assumptions regarding the Broadmoor Land Swap. Do you believe this supports transparent governance, which I assume you wholeheartedly endorse? In fact, they are so opposed to releasing the data that a CORA request was denied which I would assume made it to your office given the gravity of that call. Was this your decision? What are your thoughts regarding this decision? In response to assertions that this CORA denial is valid in real estate transactions with multiple buyers as justification for keeping appraisals secret (although I gotta say that logic still doesn't make sense to me -- open systems are always better as Google has proven to the world time and time again), why, then, did the City release the Jones Park Appraisal (see the link below) conducted by the same appraiser when, in that case, there were multiple buyers? Does that seem like consistent practices, and doesn't that violate the stated reason for denying this open records request? In the Broadmoor Land Swap, you only have one buyer and one seller; so, what, then, is the reason for this inconsistency? There must be a very good reason to behave differently on this deal if the City is willing to deny CORA request on the data? http://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Jones-Park-Disposal-Appraisal_small-file.pdf . Also, we are told that the City policies on real estate transactions are that ALL parcels require independent appraisals. This was not done. Why? Would you let someone decide for you to sell your house without advance notice nor your input AND agree to not see the appraisal work? This is our land. We have a right to see ALL the data on the appraisals. We also should have been consulted before Strawberry Fields was even put on the table. We need to fix that lack of transparency. Even the most zealous capitalists would agree that the will of the people should trump for-profit side-projects. Two polls, city-wide, (one taken down by the Gazette who hosted it) have shown results of only 15% and 4% (CSBJ) supporting this deal. A petition opposing the deal has reached 3800 signatures (68% of which are outside 80906) and continues to grow. A Facebook Page has gone from 30 to over 1100 followers (200 followers in the last week) with a highly engaged following. The momentum is against not for...the more people learn, the angrier they get. Is allowing historic parkland to be controversially deeded to a for-profit entity by a vote of 9 people a legacy you want to leave? Is it fair to put Council Members, your co-workers, in that position? Don't you think it's time to use your leadership role to stop this deal? Is it really worth pitting communities and non-profit groups against one another for a boutique horse stable and picnic pavilion (assuming that's all it is as, after 3 months, we still have no site plan) for some partial trail connections which can be accomplished independent of this deal? I hear you enjoy a fantastic reputation which I am sure came through years of making wise choices. I also hear the Broadmoor has been very supportive of you and vice-versa. Sometimes in life, we can't always agree with our friends -- but, if they are true friends, they'll be there when the dust settles. The Parks-Broadmoor partnership has failed to make the case. Time to call it off - and you have the power to do that. Warmest regards, Dana Duggan www.bUnited.com Vanderbilt, B.A. SMU, M.B.A.