We have a prophet on the council. He is a critic as well and at times he has criticized in an unprofessional manner... I am a witness as an attendee of city council meetings where he is a council member and in favor of the water project.
We have Bill Smith, the entrepreneur with "lots" at stake, who opposes the water project as is. We have a project manager with reams of consultant studies (dating back how far?) in favor of the project. The pressure must be continuous.
We have an attorney with a personal interest and we have attorney for Landwatch, both opposed, along with [Bruce] Aylward who maintains the city hired a company that will make millions on the project. It's looking like a movie, suspense variety.
What does it all mean to me? Well it looks like a done deal and that is annoying, irritating, and confusing all at once for me.
Moving right along, what does it mean to have public input? We have four opponents of the water project as is and while all in attendance listen to public input many are just sleeping through all of this.
To attend the council meetings from now on is essential for opponents and to speak those precious three minutes is essential. To wake up the sleeping residents of Bend.
Why? Council members hear what the opponents have to say; do they listen? Do they reconsider? I have written emails with responses from city councilors. I read their minds are made up. A council member spoke recently at a meeting, saying, in part, I am so excited at seeing so many people in attendance, many speaking in opposition. Did the council member only see them in attendance? Did he hear them speak and what they had to say?
Council members have a choice; they always have a choice. Are they listening to the choices spoken so well by their opponents? It appears that in this town called Bend, officials are listening but not hearing, or are they hearing and not listening? Bend residents need to come out of their sleep and participate in the discussion. Or has the discussion ended because they were asleep?
Thank you Source, thank you Erin Foote Marlowe, for the informative article.
- Tom Filcich, Bend
