Let neighbors be heard

Have you seen the movie “Groundhog Day”? The basic plot is that this guy relives the same day over and over again no matter what he does to change the outcome.

We as neighbors have our own Groundhog Day when it comes to keeping out damaging, unwanted development in our own neighborhoods, as pointed out in the May 18 Spokesman article entitled “Wetlands discovery stalls work on planned senior center apartment.”

When it comes to significant development planned for our neighborhoods, the neighbors are the last to know, yet who knows the neighborhood better than the current residents who reside there?

Currently there is no process that allows neighborhoods to have decision-making power when it comes to the future of their neighborhoods. We need a way to balance the power so that private property rights of the developer equal the private property rights of current residents. We need a mechanism to work together – developers and neighbors – to further the overall quality of life that each of us wants for our neighborhoods. I urge all of you to support the Community Bill of Rights on the November ballot.

Kathy Miotke

Spokane