HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item - 2020-11-17 - Number 7. - T. Prager Comment Simpson, Anne-Marie
From: Todd Prager <todd@toddprager.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 10:23 AM
To: CityRecorder
Subject: Agenda Item 8.1 Comment
Categories: Testimony
Please provide these comments to council regarding Agenda item 8.1:
I was in the Facilities and Programs focus group and the summary provided to council does not reflect our discussion. We talked at length about the structural
barriers that exclude people from outside of Lake Oswego and this was not included anywhere in the summary.
Among the topics we talked about were the City's lack of support for transportation options such as a pedestrian bridge over the Willamette, lack of support for
meaningful affordable housing projects, and lack of support for inclusive lake use policies.
With regards to the lake specifically, how can we honestly pretend to be an inclusive community when the literal heart and symbol of our city excludes all but
our wealthiest and least diverse citizens?The history of the lake was to specifically exclude people of color, and the City's enforcement of these policies continue
to this day.
When I advocated for public access as a member of the planning commission, crime and potential use by people from places such as Gresham and Hillsboro
were among the top reasons for opposing access. This is clearly dog whistle language and reflects the fear many, including our community leaders, have of
people from outside the Lake Oswego bubble.
Excluding poor and minority community members from public facilities follows a larger trend as described in a recent article by historian Dr.Andrew Karl title
"Who Will Get to Swim This Summer."
In closing, I did not appreciate the summary of our participation in this exercise. Lake Oswego needs to decide whether it is truly interested in becoming an
inclusive community, or if we will continue to exclude outsiders from the bubble while we 'live where we play." In the future, more effort should be made to
ensure focus group participants are satisfied with how their input is documented.
Todd Prager
Phone 1971.295.4835
Email 1 toddOtoddnrager.com
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