Some people are attacking volunteers for getting involved in local issues. This is a tactic that serves to scare the public. Don’t request public records from the city – the mayor might be upset that you are questioning her. The staff might complain that you are taking their time.

Don’t speak out to say that you think the city can do better and do more on the massive development issue. You’ll get attacked and called names in the newspaper and at council meetings.

The attackers seem to imply no one else in King County should care about Black Diamond. No one ever goes in, goes out, or somehow Black Diamond isn’t part of a larger region. They also don’t seem to care that a lot of Black Diamond residents feel the way I do: the massive 6,000-unit Oakpointe development is too big, too fast, and will destroy what we love about Black Diamond.

Many of these attackers are also the same people who support land developer Oakpointe (formerly YarrowBay,) whose office is in Kirkland, and whose investors are from out of state. Talk about being from out of town! Oakpointe people are paid to come to the city, use the government to get their permits, and attend council meetings to keep a watch on the City Council.

By contrast, I and others have been volunteering for free because we care. The mayor refuses to allow staff to attend the City Council committee meetings, even though working with council committees is normally something staff would do.

People should insist that the mayor allow the staff to do their jobs. In the meantime, I helped out the council by summarizing and tracking issues at their committee meeting. If you support the City Council’s right to make policy without being dictated by the mayor, you can help too. Please contact one of the council committee chairs (Brian) Weber, (Pat) Pepper and (Erika) Morgan and volunteer to bring reports to council, take notes and help them get their work done.

Stand up for democracy.

Kristen Bryant

Bellevue

Born and raised in Black Diamond