Dear Emily,

The following statement by Alamo region neighborhoods is being circulated to neighborhood and community groups throughout CCC District III:

Neighborhoods and community groups throughout Contra Costa County District III have been isolated from public interactive discussion of important district, community and neighborhoods issues as a result of CCC-MAC and similar CCC meeting policies. As is commonly said among neighbors, CCC meeting policies prescribe presentation of 3 minutes or less by members of the public without interactive response by boards, commissions, councils, committees or taskforces. The net result for neighbors is “do your three minutes, then shut up and go away!”

There was hope that CCC-MAC Alamo, as the volunteer staff extension of CCC-District III’s supervisor’s office, would consider communication issues that have separated a succession of CCC-District III committees and community council from Alamo’s neighborhood and community groups. Interactive discussions at Alamo Area Council meetings provided real communication and interaction with CCC-District III staff until 2006 and since then community communications has been an at-odds and unwanted response by CCC District III supervisor and staff.

Tonight (July 20, 2010), once again, the matter of community communication has been delayed from the intended agenda of CCC-MAC Alamo. And, once again, CCC-MAC members have been isolated from potential communication with Alamo region neighborhood and community groups. If such status continues, the AIA will remain Alamo’s independent public voice with CCC District III, its staff and its CCC-MAC Alamo members. Counsel(s) will remain an option when regulatory, legislative and legal actions are required in defense of our communities and neighborhoods.