HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-24 Public Comment - G. Monahan - Appoint Alison SweeneyFrom:glennmonahan@yahoo.com
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Appoint Alison Sweeney
Date:Wednesday, May 29, 2024 10:04:25 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Bozeman City Commission:
I am writing you today to voice my strong support for Alison Sweeney, who has
applied to fill the recently vacated City Commission seat.
First of all, given the amount of time and energy that a Commission seat
demands, I am grateful for Ms. Sweeney’s willingness to take on this
sometimes thankless task.
Miss Sweeney has several unique qualifications which I think makes her highly
qualified to be a Bozeman City Commissioner:
Miss Sweeney was born and raised in Bozeman. No other sitting City
Commissioner has this background, and I believe that our present Commission is
diminished by this fact. I believe Ms. Sweeney’s deep roots in the community, and
her knowledge of Bozeman’s history, make her uniquely qualified for the position. I
can’t overemphasize this enough: she spent her childhood here, attended our public
schools, and has extended family here. This background is invaluable in light of the
growth pressures Bozeman is experiencing, and in light of how few of Bozeman’s
present residents seem to know so little of our City’s history. Ms. Sweeney’s deeproots will be an invaluable asset for our Commission, that will help keep the
Commission more grounded in Bozeman’s history. Her love of Bozeman different
from that of newer residents, because it is grounded in this being here birthplace and
lifelong home, an asset that is invaluable, and should make her the unanimouscandidate of choice.
The collective issues of building codes, housing, growth, and affordability are
arguably the most crucial and difficult challenges that the City of Bozeman facestoday. Miss Sweeney has immersed herself in these issues. She has consistently
testified at City Commission meetings on these issues. In every case her testimony
has been informed, well researched, and presented in a respectful and constructive
manner. She has demonstrated a commitment to dealing with these issues for thebetterment of our City, and importantly – she seems motivated to balance the needs
of local families with the desires of developers.
Ms. Sweeney’s age group is not represented on the present City Commission.We have 3 Commissioners who are older, probably all baby boomer generation, and
one very young Commissioner, but no representation in the middle age (Millenial)
group. Given the proportion of Bozeman residents who are from Ms. Sweeney’s
generation, it is fitting that she be chosen to give that demographic a deserved voice
on our City Commission.
Miss Sweeney has been one of the founders of the Better Bozeman Coalition,
and continues to be active in making that organization a rational voice to do what the
organizations name implies – A BETTER BOZEMAN ! What more noble goal could a
candidate have? The coalition has created an informative website, and Ms. Sweeney
has been voluntarily conducting walking tours of neighborhoods to raise community
awareness of Bozeman’s unique neighborhoods.
I clearly understand that it is illegal for a candidate for our City Commission to be
selected on the basis of gender, a statute that I firmly support. Having said that, I
believe the Commission would benefit from a second female member, which
would at least make the Commission more closely balanced in regards to ourpopulation.
Please appoint Alison Sweeney to the Bozeman City Commission!
Sincerely,
Glenn MonahanNancy Schultz
420 North 10th Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715