HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-24 Public Comment - Z. Osman - Please Appoint Alison Sweeney to the Vacant City Commission Seat (vice Coburn)From:Zehra Osman
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Terry Cunningham; Joey Morrison; Jennifer Madgic; Douglas Fischer
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Please Appoint Alison Sweeney to the Vacant City Commission Seat (vice Coburn)
Date:Sunday, June 2, 2024 9:51:45 PM
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Honorable Mayor Cunningham, Deputy Mayor Morrison, Commissioner Madgic, and Commissioner Fischer,
Do an internet search for Bozeman’s Alison Sweeney and you’ll find a woman who has dedicated herself to helpingour City of Bozeman. I met Alison while participating in public engagement activities on a project that affectedBozeman’s climate resilience, urban forest, and active transportation. Her enthusiasm is contagious. I was mostimpressed by her ability to listen to people, ask pertinent questions, learn about the issues, and find solutions tothese issues. She shows up. She participates. She is intelligent, open, inclusive, articulate, and conducts herself in acourteous and professional manner.
In particular, I admire her commitment to solving Bozeman’s housing crisis in a way that preserves Bozeman’shistoric buildings and districts. I've worked in the field of historic preservation for over 35 years and I understandthe inherent challenges of preserving historic integrity while providing housing security and affordability for all. It ispossible for historic buildings and districts to change while still retaining historic integrity, though this requirescommitment to understanding and honoring what we have. Alison understands this.
Why would Bozeman benefit from having a historic/cultural resource preservation perspective on the CityCommission? Here are some good reasons to preserve Bozeman’s “old places” (source NPS/DOI):
Historic/cultural resources:
connect one generation to another
help us put ourselves in someone else’s shoes — someone from another culture, from another time,
when the world was a different place
help us see ourselves and the rest of the world from a different point of view, regardless of our
background
allow us to discover unexpected commonalities
help us learn not only about our own immediate ancestors, but about other traditions as well, such as
indigenous groups who have called this valley their home for thousands of years. We can all do a
better job incorporating this knowledge into Bozeman’s future.
Choose Alison Sweeney for the vacant City Commission seat.
Respectfully,
Zehra Osman
312 Sanders Ave
Cc: City Clerk, public record