This should give you an idea what these people, their "public input meetings", and plans for this public land are all about.
They started the session by making it clear the only purpose of the meeting was to provide affirmation and validation. Paraphrasing some of the opening statements: "This portion of the project is happening. It's already in motion. The boat ramp and parking are going away."
Numerous people respectfully spoke out in opposition and were promptly shut down because "that is not part of the program". Approximately half the attendees were clearly opposed to the project for various reasons including loss of boat ramp, loss of parking, abuse of taxpayers, and concerns over infeasibility of what is proposed.
They paraded out a nice native woman who suggested the existing parking lot is somehow responsible for violence against native women.
It's straight from the crony capitalism playbook: exploit and patronize the left to make the case for establishing a private profit center built on public land and funded by taxpayers.
The people behind this believe the biggest problem with the Bismarck riverfront is that it is free and open to the public rather than generating profit for themselves.
