Pueblog USa
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Why is the Pueblo City Council so opposed to letting people speak on camera?
Pueblo City Council Continues to Restrict Free Speech
Why is the Pueblo City Council so opposed to letting people speak on camera? During a recent council meeting a local resident was repeatedly cut off by City Council President Barbara Vidmar when he tried to testify during a public hearing on the zoning of a new development. Our new Council President would not allow the man to speak about the project saying that his points were not germane to the public discussion.
If this development is requesting public funding to pay for part of the project then the citizens of Pueblo should be able to ask questions and make comments at any point throughout this process. It is interesting to note that he was also prevented from speaking on camera since this was a regular televised council meeting. The citizens at home were not allowed to hear his public testimony either. It sure seems like this council only wants free speech to occur during the work session meetings, when the cameras are turned off.
Don’t forget, this is the same council that shut down the public’s right to televised free speech a month before our municipal election, when they had three major ballot questions pending. The free exchange of ideas in the days leading up to the election was never allowed to occur.
During our last few elections everyone has been saying we need more civility on City Council. I didn’t realize that a vote for civility was a vote against a fair and democratic process. I long for the days when we had a few dissenting views on City Council and the people still had a right to free speech!
Chris Nicoll
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