The Vantage at Shawnee Apartments are still in limbo. I have a few things I'd like to say about this past Monday's council meeting and it has nothing to do with whether or not the project is good for Shawnee.
It has to do with some of the side events that took place. Any long term reader of this blog knows how I feel about citizen participation/input at these meetings. It was my suggestion that got PS-7 modified to allow additional public input. I feel that I had something to do with the city going back to full minutes of council meetings rather than the abbreviated ones we had for a short period.
I just feel that some, not all, but some of the folks that were against the project acted like a bunch of immature hood rats. Tough analysis. But, IMHO, true. When they got up to speak they spoke. When folks got up to speak in favor of the project they were met with heckling and other negative displays. One immature idiot was seen to be mouthing obscenities at the mayor. Threats of physical violence were voiced against proponents of the project, and against the mayor.
Now there is a rumor going around that some of these folks want to show up at tomorrow's Third Thursday With the Mayor just to be disruptive. Total lack of class. They have spoken at a planning commission meeting, at a city council meeting, and when it comes back to the council am sure they will be there then. The third Thursdays are not necessarily designed for that. If they do show up, and are disruptive, they will be doing a disservice to their fellow citizens who are there for its intended purpose.
So some of these self righteous folks who have on occasion belittled the types of individuals who live in apartments are actually showing that they are pretty low life themselves. Decent people can live in private residences and apartments. The same goes for low life's.
One additional comment about Monday's meeting. The hired gun (attorney) for the developer came across as an arrogant twit. During his monotonous ramblings it appeared that on at least four occasions he was getting ready to conclude his commentary. Wow, was I fooled. He was worse than the Energizer bunny. He reminded me of an old sales philosophy which I have never liked, "If ya can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with BS." Even if the developer's VP was not a polished speaker he might have come across as more human than the hired gun.
'Nuff said, for now.
The Dispatch take on the meeting.
