THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410190185
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Citizens of Chesapeake have been summarily betrayed by those with whom they have entrusted municipal affairs. Council, attempting a minor excision, has opened an arterial wound in the public trust and cannot seem to bring much more than a bandage to the operating table.
The unfortunate decision by council to cut off citizens' comments on policies and affairs of the city is clearly a decision that would have been better for suppression. You would think that they would recognize the folly of their position almost immediately, and take steps to minimize the political damage to themselves and embarrassment to the city. Instead, we hear that there will be off-camera neighborhood meetings for citizens to express their concerns. Our founding fathers recognized that for the American experiment to work, that citizens' freedom to speak could not be abridged.
Thinking viewers know how to handle grandstanding citizens who may abuse their privilege, just as many councilmen have left the room during a meaningless diatribe. Council was hired by the citizens to do a job; the job description includes listening to citizens' concerns. There are other remedies, less politically self-destructive - such as time limits used in neighboring cities - to ameliorate the tendencies of gadflies.
Under the rules, a citizen must register as a speaker before the meeting begins, and late-comers are seldom accommodated. For many, except councilmen who are catered dinner at taxpayer expense, this means skipping a meal. Then they wait their turn to speak. Now, that is after council has adjourned - often four or five or more hours later. It is not just a hardship; it is perverse.
Neighborhood meetings are not without merit, but they are no substitute for open government. Divide and conquer is a time-honored military tactic, but it is not apropos for city leaders. Our system of government is not worth having if the stockholders have no public voice. This year $729,000 will be spent on public information, paid for by cable subscribers and taxpayers. It is public information that we expect, not what self-serving politicians think we should hear. Citizens are fully capable of discerning between substance and foolish, insolent talk - from both sides of the dais.
Edward Weidner
Chesapeake Taxpayers' Association
Willow Lake South by CNB