To the Journal editor:

There was a press release from the city of Negaunee on June 21 with the title “Old Town Area Safe from Development” causing unnecessary mass confusion

The press release failed to mention that the five-acre parcel at Cyr and Snow streets is still on the Aug. 6 ballot. It failed to mention that the five-acre parcel was not included in this protection and still needs to be voted on in the Aug. 6 primary election.

Protect Old Town Negaunee, a small grassroots group, worked very hard to get it on the ballot and educating people about how important this ballot proposal is to the community.

So here we are, the five-acre parcel is still very much on the ballot for Negaunee voters to decide on. People are voting right now through absentee ballots that went out one week after the city’s confusing press release. Aug. 6 is the primary election for people to come in person to vote on this one city ballot issue.

Voting yes will return the five-acre parcel to public use, community-owned greenspace. Voting no will allow the city to sell the five-acre parcel to a private developer for housing, gone from the public domain forever.

There are certainly ways to address housing without targeting public greenspaces. The private sector is available, including plans for 12 or more apartment units in downtown Negaunee.

Negaunee voters, please vote yes on Aug. 6 to protect this beloved area of Old Town.