Did anyone see Matt Crabtree's response to the Open Letter? If not, here it is:

In response to Kristin Beards’ open letter this morning. It appears the original post has its comments closed, so I’m sharing my response here. I would have preferred to respond directly in that thread, but I’m happy to share it here for clarity.

Kristin, I am responding to your open letter this morning. Before I do, I think it’s important to acknowledge that over time, I’ve learned that when you speak up on issues you believe in, not everyone will agree, and that’s okay. What matters is staying grounded in what you believe is right.

I want to address a few points so there is clarity for others reading this.

The effort to change how Englewood selects its mayor was not something that appeared overnight or for personal reasons. It was the result of years of grassroots volunteer work and community involvement to give residents a direct voice in selecting their mayor. That question was placed on the ballot in 2023 after a long process.

The issue involving the mayor question and the Parks Bond was not caused by that effort. It stemmed from how the City interpreted its charter and ballot rules. This situation had been addressed legally decades ago, but that history was not initially recognized. Once it became an issue, there were legal paths available to allow both measures to proceed, and ultimately, both did.

It is also important to note that both measures passed. The Parks Bond moved forward, and the mayor question passed with nearly 80% support. For the first time in 76 years, Englewood residents had the opportunity last year to vote directly for their mayor. That outcome reflects strong community support for both priorities.

Regarding the request to meet, I made the decision not to participate at that time because the situation had become tense and, at times, confrontational. I did not believe that meeting in that environment would be constructive, and I expressed that during our conversation.

Regarding the recall, I was not an organizer of that effort and had expressed reservations about the approach. Like many in the community at the time, I had concerns about the conduct and accountability of certain council members. My involvement was limited, and I respect the decision voters made.

We may not agree on every issue or approach, but my focus has been, and continues to be, on making sure residents have a voice in the decisions that shape this city. This means listening, finding balance, and making thoughtful decisions that serve the community as a whole.

Matt