Does the Dept. of Neighborhoods really want to hear what citizens have to say? The Parks Dept. called a "Public Workshop" meeting on Nov. 6, 2008 to hear public opinion about proposed changes to California Place Park in North Admiral. http://www.westseattleherald.com/articles/2008/11/10/news/local_news/news01.txt Yet, 2 weeks earlier the Dept of Neighborhoods (who was represented at the Nov 6th meeting) awarded the contract to hire the architect to Friends and Neighbor of North Admiral (FANNA) the playground proponents. http://californiaplacepark.wordpress.com/2008/10/27your-attendance-and-support-is-needed-11608/ On Oct 27, 2008, FANNA thanks the 40 supporters who contacted the Dept of Neighborhoods on their behalf. On the same page FANNA is begging for supporters to attend the Nov 6th meeting. The Parks Dept set up 16 chairs for the meeting. Nearly 100 people came. More opposing the development project than not. If the Department of Neighborhoods truly cared about what the neighborhood felt, they should have waited to hear what transpired at the Nov 6th meeting BEFORE awarding the contract.

Jan Bailey

North Admiral