11/9/99

Posted in: Country Side
I Do Not Understand


I do not understand the purpose of such an explanation. We are concerned residents of Colorado and only want to know the truth behind the forces that shape our state.

The members and supporters of CVELG would benefit by your answers just as any Colorado resident. If your answers justify the behavior of Broomfield officials, then we will all feel more satisfied that the formation of the city and county of Broomfield was in the best interest of the people. If not, then your answers can help inform voters who may wish to reconsider the issue. Either way, honest answers benefit our state.

Likewise, Broomfield residents benefit by simply knowing the truth. If they decide they want the county, then everyone is happy. If they decide they don't want the county, then they still have the chance to choose the fate of their community.

Ultimately, it is ridiculous to wonder why citizens want honest answers to questions regarding the behavior of our leaders. I believe it is obvious. Again, I thank you for your consideration.


By Adrian
For Adrian

Let me try to explain, in a gentlemanly way, why I have a problem with some of this. I read your posts and they tell me things. For example, in one of your recent posts, you stated that the city/county will not benefit citizens, only big corporations. Is this not a preconceived notion? Why would you make such a statement? Do you have any real proof of such an allegation? Or, are you relying on your lingage theories? For example, Interlocken contributed to the city/county campaign so, therefore, Interlocken wants to control the city/county. It is linkages such as this to which I take strong exception. Why? Because they do not represent the truth. In my opinion, they represent preconceived notions.


You say: here is a list of questions for BBW. Okay, I look at the questions and I can tell that they are premised on preconceived notions. Let me be more specific. The first preconceived notion, whether it was Citizens for a Fair Decision or yours, was that jails are inherently bad.

The second preconceived notion is that is is wrong for elected officials to be involved in an issues campaign.

The third preconceived notion was that since Interlocken and other businesses contributued to the city/county campaign, there must be something wrong.


The fourth preconceived notion is that elected officials and other Broomfield citizens were not acting in harmony with the wishes of the Broomfield citizenry.

Your questions are premised on the above preconceived notions. I do not agree with any of these preconceived conclusions. If I thought that it would really do any good, I would be more than happy to respond to your questions or anyone else's. I'm not convinced. For example, if I were to tell you that any Broomfield citizen can appear at any city council meeting and ask questions about anything under citizens' comments, you would probably say you heard they are afraid to do so. Why might you say that? Because you may have heard it from a few other parties. I can't agree with these few people who advance that kind of paranoia. All during 1998, any Broomfield citizen who had any concerns about the city/county matter or who believed that Broomfield's elected officials were not acting consistent with the desires of Broomfield citizens could have voiced those concerns to the city council. The city council has always welcomed citizens' input. It does not make any difference whether something is scheduled as a public hearing or not. Citizens always have the right to be heard. All during 1998, did one Broomfield citizen attend a city council meeting and express any concerns about the city/county? That is simply off the wall. Broomfield citizens voice their opinions to the city council on a wide variety of matters and continue to do so. Sometimes I'm at the council meetings and sometimes I watch the council meetings on cable tv. I see and hear Broomfield citizens address the council.
I know that your preconceived notions are wrong.

Now, if you want to make it a rule that everyone on this board identify themselves with appropriate backup documentation, I will consider it. I have been using BBW. How do I know that you are Adrian? How do I know whether or not this is just some name you are using. After all, it would only be ethical if we all played by the same rules.


By BBW
To BBW

Regarding the citizen input sessions during council meetings, as someone who has attended many hearings and has stood
at the podium themself, I would like to shed some light on a few things here.

I know many people that are simply paranoid when it comes to any public speaking in the first place. I do not know who designed the council room, but it is very poorly done. The podium sits way below ten council persons and a staff that towers above you. Number 2, many of those involved in these issues are also on advisory boards or may work for the city and are uncomfortable with coming out and saying anything.

The best example I can give you is the prior director of the open space advisory board. Roy Jones began to make a stink about the county issue because he felt it was rushed through and people did not fully understand the consequences. Later his own ward representatives would not return his calls. So, what happens as soon as the City County issue passes, the advisory board is dissolved. During the interim Larry Cooper got extremely upset with the board and said "I should have dissolved this board a long time ago" got up and left.

There have been times when staff has point blank been asked questions and refused to answer them and not one person on council insisted that staff did answer those questions.

Also, consider the complexity of the county issue. There are so many questions and you would have to be fairly well educated to absorb it all and ask some good questions.

The city should offered that this matter went to a hearing prior to proceeding at the state capitol level.

By joan
As Expected


Dear BBW(s),

I was expecting such a message from you. It is now more than reasonable to conclude that you are indeed a Broomfield official (or team of Broomfield officials) and that you intend to keep information from the public. The questions I asked you required only simple answers, mostly one-word answers, numbers, or a simple "yes" or "no" as a reply. These questions did not reflect any of the so-called preconceived notions you would like to perpetuate and I never once even remotely mentioned the jail in my questions. You call it ridiculous for us to think the county status does not benefit citizens yet you refuse to answer one of my simple questions:
    4) Please cite any tangible benefit that Broomfield citizens would enjoy under a new county.
Why is that? With the devotion Broomfield officials have demonstrated toward forming the county, it is unimaginable to think that you would not have a list of benefits. Yet the question was asked and you do not. My other questions sought specific facts that you had either implied and did not document or that you had clearly avoided in previous discussions.

My point here is indisputable. You are hiding information. Why? You were challenged to answer my questions and the BBW(s) we all know would not miss the opportunity to tell us we were wrong. You made a clear promise to answer our questions and yet you directly avoid them. Instead, you ask the petty question in return of how answering my questions would benefit you. That, my friend, is the clear sign of someone cornered by their own lies.

As further proof, may I point out that you previously threatened to oppose us on this board throughout our entire effort, yet immediately after posting my questions, you prepared us for your departure from the discussion. Never in the last few months have you even remotely suggested that you will not continue participating in this discussion. Is that not a fortunate coincidence for you?

In short, BBW, had you provided concrete answers to my questions and had they leaned toward the greater good that would be served by forming the city and county of Broomfield, I would sincerely have reconsidered whether my intentions were in the right place. I had even mentioned my uncertainty to other CVELG members. I questioned whether my concerns about the behavior of Broomfield officials were valid. You have now refueled my fire and have shown us all that Broomfield officials do have significant information that they intend to keep from the public. This sensitive information would clearly spell trouble for these officials if citizens were to discover what you hide. The behavior of these officials has been highly suspicious and now you have proven that we have reason to be worried. Thank you for restoring my enthusiasm to see that Colorado voters know the truth about what Broomfield has done.

By Adrian
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