Madam Mayor – What Changes Will Save The Plaza? Please Reply!

The city council vote on the Yakima Plaza is coming up fast and the latest word according to an article in the Yakima Herald Republic is that the swing vote belongs to Mayor Avina Guti

errez who says that unless "changes are made" she cannot support the plaza.

The trouble is she didn't make known the changes she requires, at least not to the public.

Not to those who put in the time and effort to help establish its parameters and suspect not to those who have generously pledged millions of dollars to help revitalize our downtown.

So I sent this letter to the official council email and are hoping for a response.  You deserve it.

Madam Mayor - Hundreds of activated and energized residents participated in the early phases of the Plaza process and hundreds more recently turned out at the convention center to reaffirm their desire for the project.

With all due respect, over the duration of the project more people have demonstrated their positive interest in the Plaza than the number of people who voted to put you into office.  Before the city turns its back on millions in generous donations the people need to hear from you.

The Yakima Herald reports that you need to see changes or you cannot support the Plaza but there is no report of what those changes need to be.  Yakima needs to know, for all the work, the money invested not only in design but in the downtown study that spawned it, the traffic and parking studies and the civic participation, city residents deserve to know what in your mind stands between them and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Please speak to the residents of this city by coming on KIT's Morning News Program to explain.  You are welcome to come in or call in at 972-5481.  Thank you.

If we hear back, we'll have the Mayor on as soon as possible before next Tuesday's council meeting.  If we don't get a response we'll share that two.