Would you allow the sale of Golden Gate Park, if an elected official said it was underused? As state taxpayers, we own the Cow Palace and that is exactly what is happening to it right now.

The storied venue is undergoing a self-funded renaissance of sorts but getting no love from elected officials who say they know what we want. Letters and calls from Cow Palace fans to the contrary, they are steaming ahead with state legislation.

State Sen. Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 281 purports to find “better use” for a public property that is already heavily used, and “give voice” to citizens who have already made their voices heard by flooding his office and others with opposition. His idea is to take the Cow Palace away from the state fairground system and put it in the hands of an “authority.” Unsurprisingly, many are not happy about this, and have let him know that for weeks.

If the public has stood up against his plans, then why does Wiener continue to push his legislation?

Budget issues? The Cow Palace operates in the black.

Public relevance? The Cow Palace creates thousands of jobs per year by hosting dozens of shows, including the Grand National Rodeo, the Golden Gate Dog Show, the Great Dickens Christmas Fair and giant fundraisers like Dreamforce.

Public safety? The Cow Palace is a key component of state and local disaster response plans, and will serve as a command post, field hospital, citizen shelter, and helicopter landing area during major emergencies. Tearing down the Cow Palace will harm our response to the huge earthquake that is already overdue.

Opposition to gun shows? The Cow Palace Board of Directors canceled them this month.

A regional need for affordable housing and retail development? Great idea! The Cow Palace Board just voted to begin a minimum 25-acre development for precisely this purpose.

Local arts and culture? That’s what the Cow Palace does best. Families throughout the Bay Area flock there regularly as they have for decades, passing down the tradition of local culture.

Needs repairs? Already in progress. The Cow Palace is not just funding repairs, but the beginning of a full renovation.

So what’s left? Land grab? Desire to seize public property and hand it to private developers? With no design, no promises and no public input?

If that is not Wiener’s plan, then why does he ignore the community? After we already voiced widespread opposition to the sale, why does he persist?

We, the citizens and the owners of the Cow Palace, are raising our voices to oppose any sale of the Cow Palace. Please visit savethecowpalace.com to lend your voice.

Kevin Patterson, with his family, has produced the Great Dickens Christmas Fair at the Cow Palace since 2000.