HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/19/2024 Item 7a, Cooper
Allan Cooper <
To:CityClerk; E-mail Council Website
Subject:Letter To City Council
Attachments:811_18_24...lettertocouncil.pdf
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Dear City Clerk -
Would you kindly forward the letter attached below to the SLO City Council?
This letter pertains to the Council's November 19, 2024 review of Public
Hearing Item #7 "Recommendation to approve pre-litigation settlement
documents to resolve the February 17, 2023 California Voting Rights Act
District Election demand". We would also like this letter to be placed in the
City's Correspondence File. Thank you!
- Allan Cooper
1
Save Our Downtown
_______________________________________________________________
Seeking to protect and promote the historical character, design,
livability and economic success of downtown San Luis Obispo.
To: San Luis Obispo City Council
Re: November 19, 2024 Meeting: Agenda Item 7:
"Recommendation to approve pre-litigation
settlement documents to resolve the February 17,
2023 California Voting Rights Act District Election
demand"
From: Allan Cooper, AIA, Secretary Save Our Downtown
Date: November 16, 2024
Honorable Mayor and Council Members -
As you may recall, Save Our Downtown has long been an
advocate of district elections. This is because, above and beyond
increasing minority (i.e., Latino) representation, we believe that
where each Council member resides can influence their
decision-making. Presently, nearly all council members reside
south of Highway 101. As a result these council members
probably have had little if any first hand experience dealing with
Cal Poly’s impact on traffic, parking and late night parties -
impacts that are most acute in those neighborhoods north of
Highway 101. Moreover, we are particularly keen on the idea
that the Downtown neighborhood be designated a separate
voting district. This district’s representative on the Council could
then more insightfully address, from direct observation and
experience, the livability questions unique to downtown
including noise abatement, privacy, security and congestion. To
expand on this idea further, we need a district representative for
the Old Town Neighborhood as it is currently unable to even
form a parking district because of the high proportion of renters
living there. In the final analysis, neighborhood representation
has worked to benefit cities like Portland and Seattle, giving the
grassroots a stronger voice in City government. In the spirit of
diversity, equity and inclusion, we believe that the district
election model will work best for San Luis Obispo as well.
Thank you for your consideration.