Hello,
I find the City's refusal to bring the public up to date on the issues with the land swap to be very disturbing.
I am asking simple questions.
I do not believe that the City does not know the answer to these questions.
The City Council has gone so far as to lie to me.
On September 10th 2019 in the course of the City Council meeting Mr Skorman, Mr Pico, and the Mayor's Chief of Staff each stated that my questions about the land swap had already been answered.
Why would City officials say that when it is far from the truth? There is no way that those men believe that. It appears that the City Council and the Mayor's office planned in advance to lie to me that day.
The City has a legal obligation to answer my questions honestly.
Our City is the property of the people. The City government is owned and operated by the people. There are strict rules and laws governing the public's right to oversight. You may not under any circumstances suppress information concerning mistakes that you have made.
The City was required to hold a public comment process for the land swap because City officials are compelled to carry out the will of the people. They may not act on their own in such matters.
The land swap would have faced greater opposition if the information I am requesting had been presented.
The public was denied the ability to make a fully informed decision.
The City failed to provide relevant financial information that the public requested.
I posed a specific challenge to the Broadmoor's appraisal.
How much money has been spent doing repairs to the Barr Trail on the land that we acquired since the land swap was approved.
What is the total estimated cost of all needed repairs on that land?
The public has a right to take whatever steps they choose in response to this including protesting, starting petitions, emails, and legal challenges.
The City may not suppress the public's ability to challenge land swap, and the process that led to its being approved.
Thank you, Carl Strow