Political Gumbo: Open The Doors

The City Council is scheduled this week to receive some direction on returning to in-person meetings.

Here’s the rundown, elected bodies have returned to in-person meetings. 

Mayor Victor Gordo is down.  

I’m not shocked Gordo is leading the call. After the pandemic shut everything down it was Gordo that led the call to restart city government.

He was right then and he’s right now. 

It’s time to return to in-person meetings as long as it can be done safely.

I’m sure that can happen.

What concerns me are the people calling for a hybrid model. 

Some folks want the City Council to meet in person, while they call in and comment over the phone. 

Time to hang up the phone and remove the line in the back.

It works both ways. 

If you want the City Council to meet in person, then you should be prepared to drive from Altadena, Pasadena, Long Beach or wherever you live and appear live to make your statement.

Calling the City Council cowards while you pretend to be a telephone tough guy is hypocritical.

Show up with some common sense and convictions and embrace democracy. 

I do hope the City keeps that bell and Mark Jomsky is the one that has to ring it when speakers have 30 seconds left. I love the bell.

And as an aside, yes Muir will rise again.

As for the hybrid model.

It just costs too much coin.

According to a City staff report, it will take about 700k a year to host remote comments at the City Council, its committees and all commissions.

And the City is not yet ready to implement that model. 

Yes people will cry, “What about the single mom, who can’t afford child care?”

People can submit correspondence to the City Council and it will be entered into the record. 

“But no one pays attention to the correspondence.” Yes I am psychic. I know what you’re saying.

Well, truth is nobody pays attention to the phone calls either when people don’t know what they are talking about.

Six of one and half a dozen on the other. 

I get it, the pandemic made just about everything more convenient, including our democracy. 

Nothing wrong with that. I enjoy a good stay-at-home order as much as the next guy as long as an ankle bracelet is not involved.

Oh yeah, I said I would not talk about my time in Atlanta, wait,  was it Alabama?

Democracy beckons you to step forth and have your say live and in living color.

Represent yourself well and exercise your rights.   

Give thanks.