As both a resident of the neighborhood affected and a participant in Community Approach to Planning Prince Avenue, I must point out a fundamental problem with Mollie Parry King's Dec. 8 letter. She neither distinguishes between CAPPA and groups of concerned residents, nor recognizes the difference in their roles.

As for the remainder of her letter, the fact that opponents of the medical office building proposed for 1140 Prince Avenue wore tags and stood at a public meeting was a simple way to express the depth of support for the denial of the request. It is a courtesy in that it keeps county commission meetings to a feasible length and provides a mutually agreeable substitute for dozens of two- to three-minute individual comment periods.

Finally, I find it distasteful to characterize residents exercising their right to participate in local government as "groupies," "obstructionists" and whatnot. It demeans the contributions and intelligence of local citizens, and their dedication to the preservation and improvement of Athens.

Nicki Hendrix

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Tuesday, January 11, 2005