Political Gumbo: Now With a Two Minute Serving

Last night’s City Council meeting probably was the most well managed in recent memory.

Everybody stayed on point, although I was worried during the two presentations to local business owners at the beginning of the meeting.

Those can always gobble up time as every Councilmember usually decides they have to say something.

I still say after the Mayor and the Councilmember representing the district where the business is located speak it’s time to move on.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Mayor announced that public speakers would be given two minutes to speak in an effort to “strike a delicate balance and ensure the Council is able to conduct the public’s business in a timely manner and at the same time allow sufficient opportunity and time for the public to comment and weigh in.”

Good move by the Mayor, and it came replete with a Mayoral announcement.

And then …

Nobody called in.

I’m talking about the agendized items. You know, the city’s business.

So if a tree in the forest gets two minutes to call in and doesn’t make the call, did the time really get extended?

And yes, before you ask, I have been trying to work the word “replete” into a column for weeks now.

There were a few calls, and there appeared to be the usual “fire the cops” crowd at the end of the meeting still calling on the City Council to do something illegal.

I disconnected once that started and watched the Boston Celtics sweep the Brooklyn Nets out of the NBA playoffs.

Of course, I hate the Celtics, I grew up in Laker territory — all about Showtime around here.

Sadly it was “No time” this year because the Lakers sucked.

Back on point, well maybe that was the point.

They really sucked. First time in recent years, I didn’t watch every televised game.

The Lakers did the same futile things over and over. I just couldn’t watch anymore.

I don’t think they read any reports or the City Char excuse me scouted the other teams.

Oh well, back to the City Council, there’s no need to listen to people tell the City Council to do something that legally they just cannot do.

Conspiracy theories aside, at this point … Wait a second, weren’t Kevin Durant and the Nets picked to win the NBA title this year?

Obviously, it’s fixed because I wanted the Nets to win and they didn’t.

Mentioning George Gascón, wasn’t he supposed to be the answer to Jackie Lacey. Don’t believe everything you hear, especially during an election.

Back on point, I was a little shocked by the lack of public participation on the military-like weapons inventory item (my name for it – not the city’s).

This is exactly the kind of item that the public should be participating in.

As City Manager Cynthia Kurtz and Police Chief Cheryl Moody said last night the city is unique in the big ticket events it holds annually so Pasadena has items other cities don’t have.

By the way, enough with the “interim” before their names. They are getting paid to do the gig so they are the City Manager and the Police Chief for now.

The city took steps towards full compliance with the law that requires the policy be posted and reviewed annually.

Good move on bringing it to the City Council for transparency’s sake.

The interesting moment came when Councilmember John J. Kennedy was speaking on the item, and somebody around the dais impressed by John J’s oratory skills could be clearly heard exclaiming “That’s a good line.”

The policy will now go to the police oversight commission and come back to the City Council for a full discussion before the first reading of the ordinance.