Dear Ms Kiser, Mr Hampian, and Ms Leimieux,

We are neighbors of Mitchell Park and oppose any plans to put a parking lot in our park.

We feel that it is the duty of the Parks & Rec Commission to defend green space. Developer-oriented councilmembers and city staff must not be allowed to push members of the Commission around, especially new people who don't know what's OK and what is not.

A parking lot is a permanent loss of green space. Temporary are those who push ideas like this to please a small car-oriented constituency at the expense of the people in the neighborhood, who walk to the park and appreciate this small bit of green space.

We fully expect to see more environmentally-aware candidates elected to the City Council next time around, because more people than ever before have become aware of our individual and collective responsibility to protect the environment. The Chamber has a Sustainability Committee, the SLO Association of Realtors has an Environmental Committee, SLO Rotary has a Clean & Green Group... It's a sea change. Unwise land use decisions, such as favoring a parking lot over a park, will have a harder and harder time getting through.

Please put this letter in the record from two more neighbors of Mitchell Park who strongly oppose the parking lot. Sincerely,

Regards your name