George,

I attended this event on Wednesday evening. Weather was a help in that it wasn't very hot. The space chosen has the quality of a small outdoor room but the view is nothing to write home about as the audience faced the Pavillion (no great aesthetic) and it is bordered by the construction of the transit center which seems to get bigger every day.

I suggest facing the audience to the west and moving the venue to the other side of the wall, in the plaza in front of City Hall. It is more public, but not seeing the construction site and big tent would cause fewer distractions.

The concept of the Forum was quite good in my opinion as it gives the public a better look at the differences and even a "few" points of conpromise between the two legislators. Good dialogue. Do it again and often.

Martha Wood (electronic mail, August 24, 2006)