09-21-09, Carole Weling Takes the Glendale City Council to Task for Suppressing Public Input

I HAVE BEEN READING THE REMARKS REGARDING THE RESTRICTIONS NOW PLACED ON PUBLIC COMMENTS AT CITY COUNCIL.    YOU KNOW ---- THE BEFORE ---- THE DURING,   AND THE AFTER ISSUE, AS TO WHEN THE PUBLIC MAY RENDER ITS INPUT ON A SUBJECT.   THE NEW REQUIREMENT IS THAT WE ALL MUST BE CLAIRVOINT ABOUT ISSUES BEFORE THE COUNCIL WHEN FILLING OUT SPEAKER CARDS.

IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO ALL, THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ONLY RECOGNIZE THE PUBLIC PROPERLY WHEN THEY ARE SEEKING OUR VOTE.  AFTER THE ELECTION IS OVER AND THEY ARE SECURE FOR THEIR FOUR YEARS, IT IS ----- THE BEFORE -----THE DURING,--- AND THE AFTER.  IT APPEARS THAT CITY GOVERNMENT WILL DO WHATEVER WORKS TO STIFFLE PUBLIC INPUT.

PUBLIC INPUT IS ONLY NEEDED AND WE ARE CONSIDERED KNOWLEDGEABLE AT ELECTION TIME.  FOR A BRIEF DURATION OF TIME DURING ELECTION SEASON, THE PUBLIC SEEMS TO KNOW SOMETHING.  HOWEVER AFTER THE ELECTION, THE PUBLIC ONCE AGAIN IS PERCEIVED AS SIMPLETONS AND BASICALLY ‘UNEDUCATED GADFLYS” THAT ARE A NUISANCE, A BOTHER, A PEST AND A BORE.

I SAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD GO FOR IT, DENY SPEAKERS THEIR FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK.   I HAVE A BET RIDING ON JUST HOW PETTY THEY REALLY ARE AND HOW MUCH THEY ACTUALLY DISTAIN THE AUDICITY OF THOSE RESIDENTS CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUES ABOUT WHICH THEY WISH TO SPEAK.

IS IT THE FACT THAT JUST MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, THE COUNCIL AND CITY ‘STAFF’ DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING.  IS IT THE FACT THAT THE EMPORER DOES NOT HAVE A CLOSET FULL OF CLOTHES?  IS THE CITY COUNCIL THREATED BY KNOWLEDGEABLE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DEDICATED MORE TIME AND STUDY TO ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE?  ONLY THE FOOLHARDY REFUSE TO LISTEN AND LEARN.  IF THE KITCHEN IS TOO HOT, GET OUT.

CAROLE WELING