This is democracy?

Until recently I believed that I was living in a democracy -- you remember that "one person, one vote" thing. But I was rudely awakened from this delusion when, at a recent public meeting of the Raleigh parks board regarding Horseshoe Farm Park, chair Jan Kirschbaum proclaimed:

"This is not a polling meeting. We are not counting how many people say the same thing. That will not influence us."

Apparently Kirschbaum decided that democracy had no place in her public meeting especially when it conflicted with her board's agenda.

The parks board decided to ignore the overwhelming public feedback that it had received in favor of making Horseshoe Farm a nature park and instead voted to recommend bulldozing part of the park to build a 24,000-square-foot gymnasium and a 120-car parking lot in spite of the fact that not a single person who attended the meeting even suggested building one.

I am completely amazed by the arrogance of this board and its chair. It's time that the Raleigh City Council appointed a parks board that actually listens to public input instead of one that dismisses public comment and tells us that they will not be influenced.

John Argentati

Raleigh