What About The Crime Issue? COUNCILMEMBERS NANCY NADEL AND PAT KERNIGHAN HOST LAKE MERRITT TOWN HALL MEETING On High Rises

Councilmembers Nancy Nadel and Pat Kernighan are hosting a Lake Merritt Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, January 31st at 666 Bellevue in the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. This notice was posted on the Yahoo Message Board system and seems to have appeared without commentary of any kind. There may be a reason for this, and it may be that the group members are just being nice, but the town hall meeting is out of touch with what's happening around the Lake.



The topics will be on zoning and high-rise issues around the Lake, which is interesting. In fact, their notice states the meeting will focus on:

o Blocked view corridors - for pedestrians, autos, and residents

o Creation of wind corridors

o Light/glare

o Shadows on open space and the lake

o Adverse impacts to existing visual/neighborhood character

o Community input on height standards/alternatives

But I really think they need to focus on the crime problem and right now. With the constant notices and news about robberies and murders around Lake Merritt, I'm frankly suprised that they would hold a town hall meeting on urban design issues. A couple took their time to post a candid flyer called "Muggings On Athol" which in itself calls for is a town hall meeting, and yet we're asked to talk about high rises?

At this point, it's not a good idea. I strongly suggest altering the agenda before the audience does so. It would be very embarassing to both elected officials. We've had way too many crime problems around here. It's at crisis level, and yet we have a town hall meeting on design issues?

Yes, but not right now.