Paramount Theatre
Is the 'Chronicle' Concerned?
RECEIVED Mon., Feb. 25, 2008
Dear Editor,
I am worried about the Chronicle's lack of support for the concerns of neighborhood associations and neighborhood-planning teams. Over the past few months, neither of my letters to the editor about the removal of the conflict-of-interest clause in Austin’s Neighborhood Plan were printed. That conflict of interest provision is the neighborhood’s last line of defense against unwanted development. The neighborhoods are concerned; the Planning Commission is concerned; but the Chronicle? The city wants to remove the clause and the Chronicle will not print letters about it. Neighborhood-planning teams are at the bottom of the pecking order. Neighborhoods have no place to voice our concerns. When Austin is clogged with development and Austin is not livable, maybe the Chronicle will start asking what happened. It will be too late. Until then, neighborhood-planning teams remain without a voice.
I am worried about the Chronicle's lack of support for the concerns of neighborhood associations and neighborhood-planning teams. Over the past few months, neither of my letters to the editor about the removal of the conflict-of-interest clause in Austin’s Neighborhood Plan were printed. That conflict of interest provision is the neighborhood’s last line of defense against unwanted development. The neighborhoods are concerned; the Planning Commission is concerned; but the Chronicle? The city wants to remove the clause and the Chronicle will not print letters about it. Neighborhood-planning teams are at the bottom of the pecking order. Neighborhoods have no place to voice our concerns. When Austin is clogged with development and Austin is not livable, maybe the Chronicle will start asking what happened. It will be too late. Until then, neighborhood-planning teams remain without a voice.
Sincerely,
David Haun
David Haun
[Editor's note: David Haun's letter “Decision Must Be Appealed” appeared in the “Postmarks” section of the Chronicle's Dec. 28, 2007, print edition, as well as being posted online. Haun's letter “Should Have Been 'Regulate and Mediate'” was posted in our “Postmarks” online section Dec. 11, 2007. Many letters only appear in “Postmarks” online due to space restraints in the print edition.]