To the editor:

In these fractious times, how does Lawrence build a sense of community, where folks from different backgrounds can freely mingle, talk, exercise and play games? One possible answer is the Community Building, where locals could gather to rub shoulders with those who might share unique views.

I recently received an email from the City of Lawrence titled “Community Engagement Newsletter,” where it talked about how “our team is set to improve your community engagement experience with the launch of a refreshed online home for Community Engagement aimed at building better avenues for collaboration and trust.” From my limited experience, online forums rarely foster community, and I find it difficult to reconcile this high-blown rhetoric regarding “collaboration and trust,” with the recent decision to close the actual Community Building.

Ray Finch,

Lawrence