In the Sept. 9 edition of Viewpoints, your columnist Josh VanderBerg’s responded to Ravi Parakkat’s “One View” submission suggesting a pilot study regarding the zoning issue. The zoning topic has produced more public response than anything in recent memory and Mr. Parrakat’s thoughts should have been treated respectfully. Almost every column from Mr. VanderBerg has had a tone of “better than thou” and talking down to your readership. In previous submissions he has suggested that studies tell us the right answer and public opinion has no value. His response to Mr. Parakkat was more than flippant or facetious, it was obnoxious. The Wednesday Journal should be embarrassed that they presented his thoughts to the public and should reconsider whether he should have space in your publication.
On another note, I attended the first of the “Shape Oak Park” presentations on Sept. 14 at the Community Recreation Center. Several hundred people attended in a room that was much too small, able to seat less than half the attendees. This impacted the quality of the presentation. The presenter went through his power point slides quickly, was not prepared to answer any of the few questions that could be asked, and when it was suggested that we break off in small discussion groups, there was no space for it or an organized plan to initiate it.
It is concerning that our officials did not oversee and guide the consulting group to use an appropriate space for the volume of attendees that should have been expected. More upsetting is that future meetings are scheduled for similarly inappropriate and inadequate spaces … Farmers Market, the Main Library lobby, the Oak Park Conservatory and Brookdale Oak Park. None of these will have adequate seating, the ability to see the visuals or hear the speaker, or any hope for adequate discussion and feedback.
The message this seems to send to the residents is that we are required to have these meetings but the decision has been made and we don’t want your input. The ultimate responsibility for this falls on the Board of Trustees and they, too, should be embarrassed.
Michael Goodman