I have learned from local newspapers that the Motovun Municipality, together with other Istrian municipalities, will soon be in possession of a large amount of land currently in state ownership, and that a third of the revenues generated by the leasing or sale of the land will go to the state, a third to the region, and a third to the municipality itself. From local newspapers I have also learned that a part of this land will be leased for golf and polo grounds, including all the complementary functions, such as a large number of villas and apartments.

This will certainly be a major undertaking for our municipality, which will require numerous consultants, as well as the participation of the entire municipal electorate, so as to ensure the best utilization of the land resources for the benefit of all. Here I have in mind the future generations, as well.

As an inhabitant of Motovun, I would be happy to help with advice in this complex undertaking, which I would do without any compensation. I believe that I have the necessary credentials, too. Let me mention in this context that I am a bachelor of architecture (Belgrade, 1969), master of city and regional planning (Harvard, 1972), and doctor of urban studies and planning (MIT, 1975). In addition, I dealt with a wide range of real estate investment and management issues as a building economist. As a teacher and researcher in this field, I worked at several universities and institutes (Urban Planning Institute of Slovenia, 1975-79; MIT, 1979-80 and 1983-90; Northeastern, 1980-83; and Reading, 1990-2003). Finally, I worked as a consultant for many large organizations (for example, IBM, 1983-85; State of Massachusetts, 1984-90; Shimizu, 1986-88; and Bovis, 1990-95). All these experiences may be of help in dealing with the complex issues now facing the municipality.

Addendum I (November 23, 2005)

Only today it came to me that I should have mentioned, at the very end of the long list of my qualifications, that I also paint. Shucks. An opportunity lost to draw attention to the parallel with Leonardo’s letter of introduction addressed to the Duke of Milan, which ends thus, as well. Having started presenting himself as a military and civil engineer, builder and architect, he ends his letter with a few parenthetic words about his dabbling in art. Of course, Leonardo was not in position to renounce compensation, but the parallel is otherwise impeccable.

Addendum II (December 12, 2005)

I took the letter, written in Croatian, to the municipal office on November 22. The municipal secretary stamped it in my presence. The same day I sent it via electronic mail to the mayor and to a member of the municipal council who also serves as the secretary general of the leading regional and municipal party. The municipal council met on December 5, and a report of the council’s deliberations appeared in the local newspapers on December 7. The newspaper did not mention my letter. So far, the council has not responded to it in any way. No-one who sits on it has mentioned it to me in person, either. Almost three weeks later, it is abundantly clear that there will be no response to my offer. To the best of my knowledge, the council will proceed with the disposition of land hitherto in state ownership without any professional guidance whatsoever. More important, it will proceed without any consultation of the municipal electorate. God bless Motovun.

Addendum III (December 31, 2006)

Before the year is out, it is time to round off this sorry story. After a turbulent spring, last summer the mayor of Motovun had an interview in Glas Istre (The Voice of Istria) in which he personally attacked all his enemies. There were three of us who acted, according to the mayor, out of personal interest. He did not have much to say about me, but he specifically mentioned this letter offering help to the municipal administration. In particular, he claimed that I became an outspoken enemy of golf and polo in Motovun ever since the municipal administration rejected my consulting offer. A few days later the same newspaper published my response. It was terse. First, I have never heard from the municipal office, one way or another. Second, I have never offered my advice for any sort of compensation, but free of charge. Third, I have never been against golf and polo as such, but against covering the area around Motovun with houses hiding behind these vaunted sports. My response ended with an appeal to the mayor: it is time for him to apologize to me in the very same newspaper. He has never come up with anything of the kind, it goes without saying. Nonetheless, I have been waiting for it till the last day of this fateful year.

Addendum IV (March 8, 2009)

Sadly, this sorry story is far from finished so many years later. To begin with, the mayor of Motovun responded to my original letter, together with a dozen of other letters going all the way back to 2004, on April 18, 2007. All he had to say was that he was not interested in my consulting services, at least “for the time being.” All his responses to all my other letters were similarly perfunctory, only to satisfy the legal requirement concerning communications between citizens and municipal authorities. Most important, he responded in his own name rather than in the name of the municipal council, to which my letter of November 22, 2005, was actually addressed.

Now, less than a month ago Glas Istre published an interview with two municipal councilors from the only opposition party in Motovun in which one of them stated clearly that my offer of consulting services was never brought to the municipal council itself. In other words, the mayor kept my original letter to himself even though it was not addressed to him as the mayor of Motovun.

In retrospect, all I can conclude from the mayor’s handling of my offer is that he must have perceived it as a threat of some kind. Either he conceived of it as a threat to his own authority in the municipality, which I could bring into question on professional grounds, or he was concerned that I would eventually learn too much about everything that stood behind golf and polo in Motovun’s development. Here I have in mind the hidden private interests having little to do with the community as a whole. Whatever is the case, his attacks have only grown in ferocity ever since my open-minded offer of help. And now I am facing no less than two court cases, one from the mayor and another from the municipality that does exactly as the mayor pleases.