b"COMMUNITYOur Voices MatterBy Sammie Burnett conclusion that a mental health center, a library andentireneighborhoodandgotoothercommunities a Boys and Girls Club was what its local communityjust to go grocery shopping, to get haircuts or to a needed? Not a grocery store orrestaurant. We cant just drive A sathirdgenerationParkHillresident,Iseeopportunitiestogenerateeco- downthestreetorgotothe aonceinalifetimeopportunitytoempowernomic growth in our neighbor- little market on the corner like Northeast Denver at the former Park Hill Golf Course. hood and its residents. people living in other neighbor-A recent city survey showed the top priorities forNow we have this great oppor- hoods in the city.our local residents being a grocery store, affordabletunitywiththeParkHillGolfWeneedtorevitalize housing and athletic fields. Course to address some of theNortheastDenverandcreate Frankly for the past 30 to 40 years, I think thetop priorities for local residents.opportunitiestobuildwealth city has missed the mark and missed opportunitiesBut there is an initiative on theinourcommunity,buteven forthisneighborhoodtoprosper.Thisneighbor- ballot,301thatwouldletthemoreimportantlyweneedto hood has a long history of not having amenities andwhole city decide the future ofprotect our right to make these resources that cater just to our neighborhood, ourthispropertyandsilencethedecisions.needs and priorities. voiceoftheNortheastParkMany of the people advocating Hillcommunity.Thevoicesoffor only parks and open space This is an opportunity to start reversing some ofNortheastDenverneedtobedont live in our neighborhood. the effects that redlining and years of disinvestmentprotectedandempoweredtoI ask that they work to under-createdinNortheastDenver.Ifwedon'tgetthislead the discussion of the futurestandthedemographicsand opportunitynowandpounceonit,wewon'teverof the Park Hill Golf Course. Yesthehistoryorourneighbor-get it again. Giving the City veto power of that visionon 302 helps amplify our voice. hood before voting. Developers will only further ignore the long history and needs ofKeep in mind that if passed,have already committed to 60 Northeast Denver. 301 sets a precedent for futureSammie Burnett acresofparkspace,similar Thats why I am a ballot proponent for Initiativeprojects in other neighborhoodsin size to Cheesman Park, we 302. and the city having veto powerneed more than just park and As a local resident, I did not feel like we got a say inagainst a single communitys voice and vision. 301 isopen space with the remaining land.what this neighborhood needed during the develop- targeted to intentionally stifle the growth and wealthThe biggest deception with our opposition is the ment of the Dahlia or Holly. How did we come to theopportunities for Northeast Park Hill. Other commu- fear-mongering language, Save our Open Space or nities like Cherry Creek or Central Park would notGreen vs Concrete. Its not all green space or all accept this and neither should we. concrete. Why cant we have both? Its really about No matter what you think the golf course shouldprotecting local voices and not letting the city silence Yes on 302 helps amplifybecome, we should all be fighting to ensure that theus. The Park Hill Golf Course is our last opportunity local community has the right to make that decision.to get this right. We have no room elsewhere to do our voice. We want people to understand that the whole cityit. None.should not have the right to say what the future ofLet the local community decide on the future of the our neighborhood can look like. We have to leave ourformer Park Hill Golf Course. Vote Yes on 302.BODY OF CHRIST NEWS OCTOBER 2021 13"