OPINION LETTER Ask to speak at any local council meeting. You are allowed to speak for up to 2 minutes, regardless of the subject. A stopwatch and buzzer will be placed before you. Police officers stand by to help you if you try to give more time. After you have spoken, the council will not respond to you. We are the republic.
The same council from the city waved a SPLOST at us, telling us about this rare opportunity to improve quality of life and allow citizens to vote for a sales tax. They also advised us that we should be happy because it means people from other countries will end up buying our goods. This vote is seen as a demonstration of democracy working.
Hypocrisy?
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up Category:
The agenda for Thursday’s meeting will include a topic to repeal a seldom used procedure that allows citizens to put an item on council agendas in order for them to be heard. A similar problem was presented by the council a few years back to justify using city funds for lawsuits against citizens. Is it not possible for council to have a prepared presentation from citizens?
We also have the opportunity to ask council to approve a contract for a data collection company to help council make informed decision. Is it possible for council to decide that a “neutron316” comment on social media would be a better method to get to the pulse and not just a presentation in chamber.
None of these collected data will be used by council members to aid themselves in their future campaigns for re-election. No.
Chip Glazier
Peachtree City, Ga.