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Mixed feelings stem from public forum |
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Saturday, 03 November 2007 |
By Lara Kirkner
Mammoth Times Staff Writer
 Local community members attended a public forum on Oct. 22 called “Get Involved—Make a Difference!” The forum was organized by local resident Leigh Gaasch, who is trying to make a difference for Mammoth's workforce.MAMMOTH TIMES PHOTO/LARA KIRKNER
Several speakers were involved in the forum, and were available for questions from the audience.
Natalie Morrow, a captain of the Mammoth Lakes Fire Department, discussed winter fire safety with the group. Michael Grossblatt and Byron Pohlman were at the forum representing the Town of Mammoth, and Lieutenant Jim Short and Officer Tim Smalley represented the Mammoth Lakes Police Department.
Many members of the public in attendance live in the Sierra Valley Sites and were concerned with property rights and overcrowding of the area.
“Everything gets dumped in the ghetto [Sierra Valley Sites],” said one participant in reference to the way as the town grows, more projects are put in the Sierra Valley Sites for workforce housing. “You've got too many rats in one cage,” the man added.
While many of the people in attendance felt that the forum was a waste of their time, as the Mammoth Times was told during the week after the forum, it may also have been a good start toward getting more people involved. After all, new faces showed up and had their questions answered, even if the forum did turn into more of a “bitchfest” than a productive, solution-forming forum on how to solve some of the town's problems.
The fact that local Leigh Gaasch, who organized the forum, was even willing to try and rally community members and had 25 people attend was perhaps a feat in itself.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 10 November 2007 )
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