(From Doug Biggs regarding the McKay Ave. Wellness Center)

Over the last three years, the Wellness Center Project has been the subject of 17 different public hearings, and received necessary approvals at all 17. Next Tuesday we will appear before the City Council for the 18th hearing. Unlike most of the previous hearings that had a legitimate purpose, this next hearing is a blatant attempt to further delay the project, and we are reaching out to our supporters to ask that you send a message to the Council.

The message that needs to be sent is “enough is enough!”

The hearing next Tuesday is a review of the Planning Board hearing that approved our design application for the respite center. Councilmembers Spencer and Daysog(the necessary 2nd vote for an item to be reviewed) invoked a call for review in order to save opponents the cost of filing an appeal. Instead, we the taxpayers get to foot the cost of their delay tactics. The call is based on the allegation that the meeting wasn’t properly noticed because the zoom ID in one section was correct, but another place on the notice had the wrong ID. The issue was raised in the hearing itself, and the notice was corrected and the staff attorney allowed the hearing to continue.

One could understand wanting to review this action, but what Councilmembers Spencer and Daysog did next crosses the line to become an abuse of their authority. They chose to only target the Wellness Center in their call for review. Other agenda items from that same meeting which benefit the business community and a high end commercial project on Harbor Bay were granted almost immediate exemption from review by Councilmember Spencer, but the one action impacting our unhoused neighbors wasn’t granted a request. We didn’t even receive the courtesy of a response to our request from Councilmember Spencer!

This is clearly about delaying, harassing and discriminating against the project, and the homeless elderly that will be served. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Please take a moment to write to the council before next Tuesday care of the city clerk at [email protected] tell them you are speaking in opposition to item 6-B, and let them know(in your own words please):

More than 50 people were able attend the meeting via zoom, and many spoke on the Wellness Center as well as other agenda items. Lack of noticing was not an issue that prevented people from participating.

To say a meeting was not properly noticed, but only hold one of the agenda items to a higher standard of review is discriminatory and a misuse of the call for review process.

By joining in the call for review, Councilmember Daysog forced the City, and we the taxpayers to foot the $5,000 bill for staff time, instead of having appellants pay, as they should be required to do.

The project already has the support of the voters, stakeholders, funders and regulatory agencies. These delays are a disgusting abuse of power and all they accomplish is increasing the cost of the project and delaying services to our unhoused neighbors.

Please take time to send an email today to the Council at [email protected].