Your article; “Parking regulations spur conflict”, illustrated two of the obstacles our community faces – polarization of viewpoint and the consequence of an understaffed and unstructured city government. How so?
First consider some objective facts.
The City Administrator, wearing his planner hat, issues a business license without assuring parking conformity. Subsequently, the licensee requests an expansion and the city”s accounts clerk charges the required fees, since the Administrator/planner has quit, she”s done all she can do.
Then a concerned citizen inquires how a license was granted to a shop in a congested area without meeting parking requirements. No big deal, right?
A planner should look into the inquiry, determine what, if any, corrective action is required and might even discuss somehow ensuring greater safety if such marginally compliant businesses operate there. But instead a story spreads and the shop owner, a councilman and the reporter all seem to determine that Jeri Spittler has complained against a small business, has harassed a new shop owner and is against competition.
But does that determination fit her profile? Recently, Spittler organized a volunteer renovation of a city owned building. She spent more than $300 out of her pocket to replace the broken plate glass window of the building”s sole tenant, a hairdresser, Spittler”s competition. She has long complained that her road is dangerous, parking inadequate and the traffic needed more control. Does it really seem like she is against small business or her competition?
The inferences made by her accusers, all seem the object of their own bias or motivation and the article provided little to balance it.
Councilman Leonard went to the shop to protect the victims. Did he or the reporter note that the three parking spaces actually serve the residential units behind the shop, there is no curb parking and that the required fourth space, is 200 feet away and out of view?
The shop owner says apparently her state licenses were questioned and the article says the licenses are “clearly displayed” but did the reporter or Leonard check with the state”s governing board, where there is no evidence of a required establishment license on file?. Why did the shop owner assume her state licenses were in question? Spittler hadn”t mentioned it.
Our perceptions are mere assumptions based on our feelings. Jeri no doubt feels some people are out to make her look bad, the shop owner is feeling vulnerable, the city”s administration has been berated, often by Spittler, and they are miffed and the reporter might feel she needs a story with some conflict.
Unless we trust one another”s motives, our disagreements will not effect positive changes. We must be the change we desire, then this incident could instead lead to encouraging new business by creating a safer business corridor.
So, can we please bury our hatchets? Let”s demand more professionalism of ourselves, roll up our sleeves and work together toward the change we need, in and out of city hall.
Tim Williams
Clearlake
