THE LAND SWAP AND THE INCLINE HAVE TO GO!

This is the text of an email I sent to the media today: Hello, I am of the opinion that the City is taking advantage of us. I have proven that the land swap is flawed so badly that all land must be returned to its original owners. They refuse to answer most of my emails, and when they do answer questions, they lie to us. They also refuse to initiate a process of public disclosure concerning problems with the Manitou Incline. I give our leaders permission to make mistakes, but it appears that some City Officials are not sincere. The public has rights, and the City is compelled to act in their best interests. Did Mr. Damioli of the Broadmoor conspire to defraud the City of Colorado Springs? Did Parks and Recreation unlawfully withhold information from the public by removing the facts about the needed repairs on the Barr Trail from their presentations? I have spoken before the City Council repeatedly and they refuse to say one word to the public. Something is very wrong. Councilman Murray is usually very outspoken in such matters, why has he said nothing to the media? Council President Skorman is the founder of organized opposition to the land swap, why has he said nothing? It appears that the City has circled their wagons and intends to fight to keep the land swap illegally. I am not attacking Mr. Murray or Mr. Skorman, I am pointing out symptoms of a serious disease. The Incline has to be closed. The fact that the promised repairs were not conducted before its legal opening invalidate the entire public process. Without the Incline, the City should be eager to be rid of the land swap. Does the City now fight to keep the land swap so the Broadmoor can have 15 horses at Strawberry Fields? It appears that we are not exerting nearly enough pressure on the City. We offered the City a chance to quietly take care of the land swap embarrassment, and they appear to have declined our offer. The public was defrauded because the appraisal submitted by the Broadmoor did not take into account the needed repairs on the Barr Trail. Does the City stand by that appraisal today? Even if the City were to try to defend that appraisal, the public had a right to know that we were trading for land that needed major repairs. The City is refusing to disclose this "mistake" to the public today. The City is showing complete disregard for the rights of the people of our City, and it is up to us to force them to make it right. The public's right to the truth supersedes the City's right to avoid embarrassment. Thank you, Carl Strow