Vocal Point: Councilman’s attacks untrue, disrespectful
In response to Councilman Dean Grafos’ diatribe in the Vocal Point on Saturday, Oct. 30, I am also puzzled as to why he thought it necessary to attack Spokane Valley citizens by name with untrue and possible libelous statements.
These citizens came to testify to their concerns over the actions of their Spokane Valley City Council. This is their right and if Councilman Grafos doesn’t agree with them, it is still his responsibility to listen and hear all sides of a discussion before making a decision. He was elected to represent all the citizens of Spokane Valley.
As for myself, I have no memory of ever sending a “fear-mongering e-mail” nor was I the author of the statement “that our Valley is lost without a City Center at U-City.” I was testifying on my behalf and not for the Spokane Valley Business Association. I am a board member of the SVBA and as treasurer I keep the list of members and their e-mail addresses. I send out notices of our meetings and any information that might be of interest to our members and others. I will also forward e-mails, when asked, as long as they are civil and do not contain objectionable language.
When I approached the podium I gave my name and the address of our family’s commercial property on East Sprague, I was testifying for myself and my family not the SVBA. I gave copies of my testimony to all members of the council. If Councilman Grafos had ever taken the time to study the proposed City Center and the SARP zoning that was under discussion he should have known the boundaries of the City Center Zone. Our property is in the Mixed Use Zone west of the City Center Zone.
If the city eliminates the City Center Zone it will have no effect on our property and we are certainly not located in any so-called “favored area.” We do support a City Center for Spokane Valley and hopefully the City Council will follow the desires of the majority of Valley citizens and establish a plan for revitalizing Sprague and establishing a City Center by whatever plan they might devise.
The council seems to want to discount the Clearwater Report that did the survey of what the citizens wanted for their new city in 2004. If they really want accurate, up-to-date information then they should ask Clearwater or some other professional survey company to update that report. If they destroy SARP then a new plan is needed to guide development. That is the responsibility of the council – not free enterprise.
Councilman Grafos also pointed out that each of the individuals he attacked were members of the SVBA as if that was something that should be viewed as discrediting their testimony. He targeted Councilman Gothmann for being a member of the SVBA, but he neglected to mention that Mayor Towey is also a member of the SVBA.
All of these citizens that Councilman Grafos pointed out have many years of community service donating their time and money for the benefit of our community. To attack them or any citizen who comes to testify in such a libelous manner is not something a city councilperson should do; it shows disrespect for the other members of the council and reflects on all the citizens of the Valley.
Why should anyone want to come to testify before the council if they fear that they may be slandered in the newspaper by a councilmember who disagrees with them?
Councilman Grafos has continually made disparaging remarks about the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Spokane Valley Business Association over the past year. I would suggest that he try working with them instead of alienating two very active and respected business organizations.