Small progress; we've just begun to be heard
Dear Neighbors,
Thanks to your incredible support for our DelayTheVoteBothell effort, I was able to garner a meeting with Council members Thompson, Al-Kabra, and Dodd last week. Although this was after they voted against our wishes, the work in front of us is not ending.
In that meeting, I focused on communicating these key concerns that many of us share. While there are certainly more issues to address, these represented an important starting point:
- Our concerns were dismissed. During the Nov/Dec public comment sessions, we were characterized as “misinformed” or dismissed with “change is hard” rather than being taken seriously. That's not ok with us going forward.
- We know that previous public engagement was insufficient. Any engagement that occurred prior to November 5 didn’t include the newly released specifics on massive zoning density changes. These specifics demand proper attention and discussion going forward.
- Current plan density is overdone. We are not ok with the current zoning and density plans, and we have more work to do here.
The members assured me that they are committed to being more connected and that there will be opportunities for refinements as the process moves forward from here. My goal will be to hold them to this commitment.
This means we need to stay engaged, which I intend to do on your behalf.
This is only the beginning. Our goal is not just to be heard, but to ensure that our voices make an impact. For that to happen, we need to remain informed and engaged at the right times.
And we must keep growing! Please take a moment to forward this email to neighbors who share our concerns and encourage them to visit delaythevotebothell.com to sign up for email updates. That website will be obsolete as of Jan 1, 2025 and I'll be communicating via email updates in future.
My commitment is to continue chipping away at a deeper dialogue with council members, and to keep you updated on progress.
Thank you for your dedication and support. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season!
Warm regards,
Wayne