I am concerned about the impact that an estimated 3.75 fold increase in the use of Joe Debely Stadium will have on the adjacent neighborhood. So, for the first time in a long time, I attended a meeting of the Turlock City Council on Dec. 1.  Based on what I witnessed and experienced there, I now have much greater concerns.
The decision regarding the funding appeared to have been made before the council meeting, because surveyors were seen working on the stadium earlier that same day. This happened without consulting or considering neighbors of the stadium and before the public hearing. The hearing was, in effect, a formality.
At the hearing, citizens were limited to certain topics and three minutes, which was rigidly enforced by the city manager with a stopwatch. In addition, there were efforts to block some wishing to speak without first submitting a card. At times, the disrespect displayed by some behind the bench bordered on disdain.
The Turlock government appears to be driven by its own agenda, indifferent to the concerns of those citizens impacted by their actions, and condescending to those citizens wishing to engage them. I urge my fellow residents to check for themselves.