According to Old East Davis residents speaking in the Public
Comments segment of the June 16, 2015 City Council meeting, this news report
was the first time that virtually anyone in that neighborhood had heard of this
plan. Aside from issues of the height
and other aspects of the buildings itself, residents felt “blindsided” by the
seeming stealth character of the process.
Fifteen Old East Davis residents spoke. Holding the substantive
aspects aside, I was impressed with the civility, cogency, intelligence and sheer
civic vigor of all the speakers.
I think they showed us what citizenship can be at its best and
we should look to such people as exemplars of the kind of civic life we should
strive to carry on in Davis.
I also thought they carried the day on the substance, but
that is a matter for other times and places.
Anyone interested in seeing civil and intelligent democracy
in action (as well as in issues of redevelopment in historic areas) can view
the 15 commenters and their comments on YouTube here:
