Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Election Outcome: City Council Policies and Oversight

Remarks thanking the public in their support for defeating the 2B intiative and returning the public comments to television.

Testimony to Pueblo City Council

Election Outcome:
City Council Policies and Oversight
November 10, 2008

Madame President Barbara Vidmar and Distinguished Council Members,

My name is Dr. Alvin Rivera. My topic is “City Council Policies and Oversight.”  First, however, I want to speak directly to the TV audience out there.

I want to thank you, the viewing public who called upon the City Council officials to reinstitute the television camera for coverage of this “Public Forum.” In this election, YOUR voice was surely heard in a resounding political landslide victory of 59% to 41%, to return the TV cameras so the public at large can hear the issues raised by the citizens about their concerns. By the City Council ruling to discontinue the coverage, it forced citizens to put the issue on the ballot, at their own expense. I wish to commend the leadership effort of Chris Nichol in that effort.

YOU, the public, were correct in your vote and your voice to ensure the First Amendment of Free Speech is safeguarded. There continues to be too many city government decisions made out of the public’s eye, and this Public Forum will go a long way to ensure that everyone in the public hears the concerns raised by civic activists and any other person with an issue or concern in which government officials can offer helping hands, insights or referrals.

Also, in the election, I worked to oppose the 2B initiative calling for expansion of the Convention Center. Once again, the public is way ahead of our elected officials who uniformly supported it and made generous donations. The public was correct to oppose it, for the Third Time!  YOU, the public, knew that their was no justification for such expansion and your over 56-44% victory, or 12% defeat, must have been embarrassing to the elected officials and proponents who sought to win this issue through the many daily stories in the Pueblo Chieftain, including its editorial endorsement and to bank roll the measure by contributing nearly $40,000, to our merger $400. It goes to show that YOU, the public, are very good at discerning the actual needs of Pueblo. I am grateful to YOU for standing up to misguided government officials—including the City Council members and the three Pueblo County Commissioners, wealthy developers and the unprofessional Urban Renewal Authority staff and consultants.

If this sounds more like a “victory lap” than public policy issue, you may well be correct. There is no doubt that these two policy changes voted upon by the public, are every bit as important in directing a future course of the City Council deliberations. Because the Council was wrong on both issues, it has raised serious questions if the Council is out of touch with the public. I would argue it is indeed.

Finally, the Council needs to take its role more seriously regarding oversight duties and be more open to opinions offered by the public. This will be a tall order for this Council given its track record in the past few years and based upon this election. Thank you.

Alvin Rivera
566-0069