I don’t know what the issues are, I”m not sure if it’s the city’s or developers or both’s responsibility to show some transparency to citizens about why things are the way they are down there. But it seems to me that the more informed we are about why downtown is the way it is, if there are any options, what is being worked on, the better off we all will be. Communication is the key and while I may be wrong, I don’t believe there has been a lot of communication to citizens about what is going or not going on downtown.

I am for any and all meetings that bring everyone together to resolve differences and come up with solutions, as what has worked down there in the distant past, is not working today.

Either way, something has to be done to this area. Now to make it even worse, Burton Katzman is going to build more empty space.

I always hear about the “master plan” at the meetings. I just don’t think a “ghost area” was part of the plan. Throwing blame is getting boring.

Does anyone have some positive suggestions for this mess?

As some concerned citizens, like Donna Hay, Pat Stagg, and Mike Albano know, Hakim has been happy to talk openly about these issues publicly, and would welcome any public meeting with city officials and commentators like Said.

At this point, I would plead with Said to organize such a meeting in the interests of citizens and the city as a whole. Said has the connections and standing to do it, and it’s something everyone could benefit from.

Said, what do you think about such a venture?

I would be very surprised if they would let Hakim Fakhoury talk about these problems and if they did they would refer it to council for further investigation thats what they usually do.

If someone from the City won’t come, maybe Mr. Deep or Mr. Fakhoury, could arrange to be put on the Council meeting agenda and we could hear about it there. The City couldn’t say no. It is a public meeting. Mr. Fakhoury could also come and counter, if necessary, what the city says. It would probably be better there because it would be televised and more people could see it.

All of these rumors could be put to rest and the development of the area could, finally, go ahead.

From my personal conversations, what I can guarantee is that Hakim Fakhoury would welcome the opportunity to be at such a meeting and take any questions and be as open as he can.

I would love to see a town hall meeting on the subject with officials from the City. That way, all the information would be out there and it wouldn’t be a he-said, they said. Interviewing one side at a time doesn’t work. Why don’t you set it up and let us know when it is going to happen so that we all can be there and get the true facts.

The truth would be so much better than all of the rumors. Don’t you think?