Resident Presentation During the 06/22/2023 Zoning Board on Westminster

We are better served when we use evidence to hold expert opinion accountable…

In this clip, a resident provides the Zoning Board with important information about the environmental impact of the Westminster project. Listen carefully to how the expert responds to the resident’s presentation and how the resident counters with on-the-ground knowledge of the area.

One thing I would advise residents not to do is to behave or act deferentially to experts. Certainly, hear what they say, assume they know more about the subject area but don’t assume they are correct – evidence trumps expertise every time.

Argument from authority is a fallacy leaders in this town (the former Mayoral administration and the current BOE) have used ad nauseam to get us into harmful, costly messes.

I have no idea who is correct in this back-and-forth, but the resident, in my opinion, presented a far more compelling argument. If I were on the Zoning Board, I would certainly want to walk through the area with the resident to better understand her perspective.

It was also refreshing to see a resident given time and space by the zoning board to give this presentation – go to a Board of Education meeting and try to do this. The “shushing,” interruption, endless monologues, and gnashing of teeth coming from the Board and Superintendent would be epic.

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