Opinion: Criticizing the Person or the Policy?
Piedmont Resident Objects to Letter in Piedmont Post –
Dear Editor:
I have just read the letter by Guy Saperstein in the 12/21/11 edition of the Piedmont Post and find it to be inaccurate, misguided and mean spirited. It requires a response. Why does Mr. Saperstein feel the need to make personal attacks on someone who is willing to give his time, expertise, and energy to improve the fiscal and civic health of our city?
I would like to address a few of the issues Mr. Saperstein raises. In meeting with our Oakland neighbors concerning a major Piedmont development project that impacts them, Tim took the correct approach and sets an example of the open communication skills that our current city council members have not practiced. Additionally, anyone following the Blair Park issue knew well before the first person spoke at the 12/5 City Council meeting that the meeting was a formality & the result a foregone conclusion. There was no need for Tim to speak that evening.
Volunteerism is a major factor in what makes this city run. Tim has volunteered in many capacities during his 9 years as a Piedmont resident: on the school’s Curriculum Council & GATE Advisory Committee, Piedmont Civic Association, Piedmont League of Women Voters, as a parent volunteer for multiple school related events and as a board member & president of the Piedmont Swim Club. But since when does volunteering for its own sake make someone a good candidate for city council?
Tim Rood is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility and transparency in government. These are the issues that matter. Our city is currently faced with serious financial shortfalls as a result of poor oversight by our current city council. Tim is a professional urban planner with vast experience in contract negotiations, facilitating complex city planning projects and has been involved with award winning projects focused on making cities more livable for the 21st century. I think many Piedmonters are looking for a candidate who is willing to be honest about what our city can and cannot afford, is willing to make the tough decisions that will need to be made in order to put our financial house in order and will promote open dialogue between the city council and its citizens. There is no doubt that Tim Rood is the person for this job.
Karen Cutler
Editors Note: The letter from Guy Saperstein published in the Piedmont Post on 12/21/11, criticized Tim Rood, a candidate for Piedmont City Council, for meeting with the Oakland City planning director to discuss Blair Park on December 5th. Rood noted that the Piedmont City Council was downplaying Oakland’s comments on the proposed sports complex “at its citizens’ peril.” He referred to a letter from Oakland Planning calling on Piedmont to conduct a supplemental environmental report on Blair Park. Subsequently, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to file a lawsuit against Piedmont unless the two cities can reach an agreement on resolving Oakland’s objections to the project.
Editor: I have just read the letter by Guy Saperstein in the 11/21 edition of the Piedmont Post and find it to be inaccurate, misguided and mean spirited. It requires a response. Why does Mr. Saperstein feel the need to make personal attacks on someone who is willing to give his time, expertise, and energy to improve the fiscal and civic health of our city? I would like to address a few of the issues Mr. Saperstein raises. In meeting with our Oakland neighbors concerning a major Piedmont development project that impacts them, Tim took the correct approach and sets an example of the open communication skills that our current city council members have not practiced. Additionally, anyone following the Blair Park issue knew well before the first person spoke at the 12/5 City Council meeting that the meeting was a formality & the result a foregone conclusion. There was no need for Tim to speak that evening. Volunteerism is a major factor in what makes this city run. Tim has volunteered in many capacities during his 9 years as a Piedmont resident: on the school’s Curriculum Council & GATE Advisory Committee, Piedmont Civic Association, Piedmont League of Women Voters, as a parent volunteer for multiple school related events and as a board member & president of the Piedmont Swim Club. But since when does volunteering for its own sake make someone a good candidate for city council? Tim Rood is running on a platform of fiscal responsibility and transparency in government. These are the issues that matter. Our city is currently faced with serious financial shortfalls as a result of poor oversight by our current city council. Tim is a professional urban planner with vast experience in contract negotiations, facilitating complex city planning projects and has been involved with award winning projects focused on making cities more livable for the 21st century. I think many Piedmonters are looking for a candidate who is willing to be honest about what our city can and cannot afford, is willing to make the tough decisions that will need to be made in order to put our financial house in order and will promote open dialogue between the city council and its citizens. There is no doubt that Tim Rood is the person for this job. Karen Cutler
Editors Note: The letter from Guy Saperstein published in the Piedmont Post on 12/21/11, criticized Tim Rood, a candidate for Piedmont City Council, for meeting with the Oakland City planning director to discuss Blair Park on December 5th. Rood noted at the time that Piedmont City Council was downplaying Oakland’s comments on the proposed sports complex “at its citizens’ peril.” He referred to a letter from Oakland Planning calling on Piedmont to conduct a supplemental environmental report on Blair Park. Subsequently, the Oakland City Council has voted unanimously to file a lawsuit against Piedmont unless the two cities can reach an agreement on resolving Oakland’s objections to the project.
Saperstein also criticized Rood for not showing up at the December 5th Council meeting (he was out of town on a long-planned family vacation), and cited the Post’s list of “city volunteerism” work by Council candidates.
