Protect Volunteer Park (PVP), a pro-public park community group, is protesting the Mayor’s parkland giveaway at Seattle’s Volunteer Park and demanding the City follow city law by holding a public hearing to determine whether the expansion truly is necessary and whether reasonable alternatives exist. What began as a simple, voter-approved renovation project (passed in the Parks ’08 Levy) is now a large expansion and land-grab by the SAM and the Mayor in one of our City’s most beloved public parks. It is a clear violation of Initiative 42, created by voters and approved in ‘97, which states: “no such land or facility shall be sold, transferred, or changed from park use to another usage, unless the City shall first hold a public hearing regarding the necessity of such a transaction” (Seattle Or. 118477, Section 1) SAM leadership, the Mayor and Parks Department claim that I-42 constraints don’t apply to the project, thereby avoiding a public hearing and a compulsory exploration of alternatives. PVP sent a substantive legal letter [BELOW] to the Mayor and Seattle Parks and Recreation demanding that the law is upheld. “Volunteer Park is a priceless gem of the Seattle Park System, an invaluable resource for park users, Seattleites, and the residents of Capitol Hill,” said David Bricklin, PVP’s legal counsel and environmental law expert. “The public deserves an open hearing on the issue as Initiative 42 requires.” READ his letter, sent recently to mayor and the press: http://protectvolunteerpark.org/2017/05/14/press-release/ Thank you for your support. Please continue to share this petition and to protect Volunteer Park. We need your help! DONATE to help with legal costs! https://thinkagainsaam.org/donations/ FOLLOW US on FB: https://www.facebook.com/protectvolunteerpark/ The Protect Volunteer Park Team