LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Recently, I knocked on every door in the Brookmeadow section of Woodcreek, asking citizens if they knew about the proposed subdivision The Oaks (formerly The Grove). I had my clipboard with a petition to oppose the development, and documents that the developer presented to the City.

All but six who answered the door signed the petition. Three opposed the subdivision, but said it is pointless, the city doesn’t care about us, the city doesn’t listen, it is a waste of time. Two added, “and I don’t want to put my name on a document that the city will see, so I don’t become a target by the city.” They think that the city would retaliate simply for expressing their opinion on city business. That is some seriously messed up stuff. There is something very wrong, if this is what they think of the city. And it’s the city’s responsibility to address that.

Many of the neighbors who did sign the petition were expressing very similar thoughts about that it was pointless to do this, the city doesn’t care, they don’t listen to us, but good luck anyway. The level of mistrust and feelings of hopelessness was overwhelming. How can we even attempt to work together to get anything done, when citizens don’t trust their local government to have their best interests at heart, or to even know what their interests are, because they aren’t listening?

These lovely people, who would invite me into their homes, offer me water and tell me their stories—these lovely people are disheartened and sad, feeling powerless and hopeless—that they simply don’t matter.

As I sat in the home of a woman who lives close to the proposed development it took all my will power not to wrap her up in a big bear hug and try to comfort her.

After her telling me just how hopeless she feels about all this, and she feels the city won’t protect her or even cares about her she said “This is my forever home, I’ve had my grand-babies run through this house, it is filled with years of memories. I bought here when this was a rural area, I bought here because of the large lot sizes, if this development happens...” and she pointed towards the area through the walls “ if this happens” and the tears welled up in her eyes “I will have to move, I can’t live next to that. Chrys, I don’t want to move.”

There was a pleading in her voice that broke me.

These are our neighbors. These are our friends. They have invested many years making our community special. How can we allow them to feel like the city is not even willing to listen to them? How can we ever build a better Woodcreek, if the citizens don’t feel like they have any say in any of it?

I can not face having to go and tell that dear woman that the city did not hear us, and that the subdivision is going to happen. I don’t want to feel that personal sense of helplessness with her,... that I didn’t do enough, I couldn’t do enough to have the city listen to us.

I ask our Council, please listen to our Brookmeadow neighbors. Give them hope that maybe someone in their city government cares for them more than some outside developer. Give the citizens their voice back.

Please.

Chrys Grummert