HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-01-25 Public Comment - M. Campanelli - In support of the Guthrie Appeal # 25033From:Mark Campanelli
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]In support of the Guthrie Appeal # 25033
Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 7:14:02 AM
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Dear Commission,
I write today to demand that the City Commission and Staff start enforcing the rule of law
equitably and fairly. The "selective enforcement" of the NCOD exposed by the underhandedGuthrie approval process is the most recent and notorious example of falling short of this basic
requirement of good governance. I implore our elected officials to understand that breakingwell established laws in the name of good causes (here, affordable housing) inevitably ends up
NOT protecting the LEAST powerful among us. Instead, we get non-local developers withnon-local capital ready to extract wealth from Bozeman, with the City Commission and Staff
leading the charge by setting aside the requirements of existing law, precedent, and procedure.
I have come to realize that the City's handling of the Guthrie approval is a symptom of abasic lack of understanding of the solemn duties of due process. A governing body cannot just
whimsically add new laws out of wishful thinking (example: affordable housing incentives)when they do not even appreciate and abide by existing laws (examples: NCOD, building-
code enforcement, and paying for police/fire/rescue upfront as growth is approved). Dueprocess means changing existing law transparently, not merely setting it aside and hoping that
none of us common-folk taxpayers raises a fuss. I see this misguided governance as a growingparasite on our community, with rather bad long-term unintended consequences already
coming home to roost.
In closing, I reiterate: I implore our elected officials to understand that breaking wellestablished laws in the name of good causes inevitably ends up NOT protecting the LEAST
powerful among us. If the City Commission really thinks that the taxpayer-supported Guthriephilosophy of development is the right solution for Bozeman, then we must first review and
change the relevant laws in the full light of day.
Mark CampanelliBogert Park Neighborhood