Messages of Solidarity and Support from
around the community . . .

From the Discovery Park Neighbor Network
"Dear Dr. Giuliano:

As President of the Discovery Park Neighbor Network, we express our unequivocal condemnation of the action taken by the City of Seattle with regard to your termination and call for immediate city council investigation of this precipitous action by parks staffers. We only learned of this through the media (Queen Anne News August 9, 2000).

From the beginning, you have expressed the clear desire to reach out to all of the surrounding community - not allowing any single advocacy group to exercise inordinate control over aspects of public input regarding park administration. Though I have not had a chance to get to know you well during your tenure at Discovery Park - your door has always been open to us in the surrounding community and you have always returned my calls, listened to my concerns, and encouraged our group's involvement in public process regarding Discovery Park. You use plain language when communicating with us - taking time to explain the government acronyms that most bureaucrats baffle us with.

Additionally, you and I have both attended public meetings as private citizens - and as an attorney I have to say that I have been impressed indeed with your scrupulousness in avoiding any appearance of a conflict of interest with regard to your work as Discovery Park Manager.

All told, you have demonstrated excellence in communication skills - which in city government parlance apparently makes you "high maintenance" and a problem for them. You have encouraged public service work in and around the north Magnolia area in ways far greater than anytime in the previous thirty one years I lived nearby Discovery Park. You have been open to the concerns of organized children's sports and recreation groups (soccer, frisbee, etc.) in the community - actively seeking to find common ground between them and the rigid brick wall put up by other so-called "friends" of Discovery Park.

In the almost one year since you first came to Discovery Park - it is cleaner, more well-trimmed, the trails are in terrific shape and there is awesome new signage - the park is in better shape today than any time in its history. If not you, who do we thank for that? When you first became Discovery Park Manager you communicated to the wider community that while you would reach out to everyone outside the Park - you hoped that citizens would reach out to (not only) the Park, but look for opportunities to work with all local government entities in effort to conserve the natural world around us.

We in the Discovery Park Neighbor Network were inspired by that sentiment - and thus our successful public-private partnership with Seattle Public Utilities at the Magnolia Water Tower resulted in an entire city block planted with fifty seven trees - and volunteer community labor to maintain them as well. Sure, the Millenium Tree Project was the means to make the project happen - but Jackie Giuliano was the necessary catalyst to create understanding and motivation regarding the undertaking.

That is leadership, pure and simple. Something is seriously wrong with city government when expensive debacles like the Interbay Soccer Stadium persist without scrutiny - while your enormous success is greeted with termination of employment.

Sincerely,

P. Scott Cummins President,
Discovery Park Neighbor Network"

From the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Chief Horticulturist
"Jackie, To say the least I'm stunned. I've appreciated your zeal for our mission as well as your sense of humor. I wish you peace as well."

From the Chief Engineer of the 70th Regional Support Command - Army Reserve - in Discovery Park
"Jackie, I was so very surprised this AM to see your Email regarding your termination. From the tone of your message, I sense this was a surprise to you as well. I want to thank you for all of the cooperation you have shown to me personally and to this Headquarters. Your assistance leading up to and during our celebration weekend last month really made our job much easier. Thank you again for your cooperation and support, and may your next opportunity be the best yet. It has been a pleasure working with you."

From the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation Acting Chief Urban Forester
"Sorry to hear of this development. I believe your help in developing a direction for the Forest (Habitat) Management Plan for Discovery Park has been exemplary. Your enthusiasm for this project will carry on. Thanks for raising the bar."

From a Discovery Park Naturalist
"I don't know or understand why you are no longer with us. And I'll miss you and your guidence very much."

From the President of the Seattle Astronomical Society
"Dear Jackie, This is a very sad announcement for me personally and for the SAS as an organization. It was very refreshing to be associated with an individual like yourself who had a vision for the future and a plan for making Seattle Parks a better place for all of the citizens of Seattle. I am forever grateful that you chose to reach out to the SAS and include us in those plans."

From the President of the Seattle Astronomical Society to the Society Membership
"I received a disturbing note from Dr. Giuliano informing me of his recent termination as manager of Discovery Park for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. Many of you will recall Jackie's presentation at the SAS meeting earlier this year in which he gave us an insider's look at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory based on his 20 years of experience as a mission planner with the unmanned space flight program there.

Dr. Giuliano was very kind to the SAS during his stay at Discovery Park. Shortly after his arrival last winter he contacted me and asked how he could collaborate with the SAS in an effort to include astronomy in programs at the park. This was a novel concept for me representing an organization that has fought after hours ticketing of vehicles in park parking lots and sprinkler head timing cycles for years (ever had one of those babies positioned right under your telescope tripod turn on as you were viewing?)

It was so nice to have an ally in the parks department who saw the park system as something to be used and enjoyed by all members of the public including those who go about there business in the hours after dark. His enthusiasm was infectious and we can all hope that others will continue with the ideas that he worked to develop.

Dr. Giuliano is hoping to find work here in the Seattle area. I asked Jackie if there was anything that I could post here for him to let the membership know of his situation and possibly aid him in placement with another employer."

From an ex-President of the Discovery Park Advisory Council
"I got back from vacation tonight and was shocked and upset to hear what happened . . . You worked some real miracles at the park and I learned a lot working with you. I too am concerned about what may happen to all of it. You are extremely talented and intelligent and will find an organization that will be able to utilize your skills."

From a member of the local community
"Dear Mr. Giuliano,
I was sorry that you have been banished by the Parks Dept and Friends Of Discovery Park ... you have made great impacts on the Park; I hope that they remain.

May the eagles watch over you."

Thank you to my supporters and the many fine members of the community I encountered during my tenure in Discovery Park. --- Jackie Giuliano