I hope this post finds you and your family well.
Given recent events, I certainly expect the City Council to allow us, the public, to comment on these matter in a appropriate place and at an appropriate time.
I feel the "Catholic institution" (your words, not mine) needs to rise to the occasion and set the tone for civil debate.
Unfortunately Dr. Brophy, the many mailings, television commercial and signature gathering discussions has provided from your institution, far too many half-truths, incomplete information, and what can be considered by some as misrepresentation of the facts.
When we swear as a witness in a trial, aren't we compelled to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Is that a standard that the "Catholic institution', again your words, is not obliged to keep as we basically conduct a trial concerning the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project and/or The Marymount Plan?
Why do you still condone the statement that The Marymount Plan will be accomplished "at no taxpayer expense" when you and others representing the College know full well that The Marymount Plan can not be fully accomplished without an as yet unknown amount of taxpayer-funded dollars for some community elements required in both the Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project and The Marymount Plan?
Also, every statement made in all the advertisements revolving around the construction time of The Marymount Plan is a half-truth at best and it may be considered by many as deceptive and misrepresentative.
Sir, we had this discussion in the hall outside the Council Chambers and then as it is now, you still have not denied that I may be absolutely correct about this.
All I have to do is remind you that when City Council members, during the March 31, 2010 meeting, discussed the issues, several of them asked you and/or your legal counsel Mr. Davis whether you two thought the Project could be completed within six years and both of you stated, on the record, that you did not believe The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project could be complete in even as little as SIX YEARS.
Since you and I both know that The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project was approved for an eight year time frame and that Project does not include the residence halls that were removed from consideration at the request of Marymount's officials, the residence halls included in The Marymount Plan will add additional time to the overall time frame. Why do you still not allow potential voters the information that is most correct, truthful, and honest as easily as they are provided marketing elements sponsored by Marymount?
Are you, or the marketing component of The Marymount Plan, ever going to publicize the similarities between The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project and The Marymount Plan? Potential voters would have the opportunity to learn what has already been approved within the scope of The Marymount Plan by the approvals given to the bulk of the elements Marymount requested with The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project. The public which include the registered voters you hope would vote to approve the initiative sponsored by Marynount would find out that the only major difference between the two are the residence halls and associated construction necessary for students and supervisorial staff to be accomodated. Might you not trust the voters with the most complete information possible to allow them to vote having all the facts?
Also, why must the Specific Plan zoning sought within the proposed initiative have wording that would allow that zoning to supersede current and possibly future municipal codes?
The Marymount College Facilities Expansion Project was approved to include the variance in the number of parking spaces that are planned for even though that number still fall short of the minimum number of parking spaces according to the city's municipal code. You don't need to have the element within The Marymount Plan that you want that states that the municipal code for the number of parking spaces required on the campus would not apply for Marymount College and only for Marymount College, and no other business or institution, Catholic or not.
It is so unfortunate that an institution you head, a religious institution for higher learning, has offered Emails that appear sanctimonious and disingenuous, I feel.
I believe if you truly wish to live up to what you are advertising as being a good neighbor in our community, you have the moral duty, business responsibility, and should have just plain common sense to address all issues using truth over half-truths, admissions of true purposes over seeming misleading statements, and honor above all else to your institution, your church, your community, and everyone associated with Marymount College.
Regards,
Mark Wells
aka M Richards
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