Government at Work?
This was nearly what we had at the CdA City Council meeting last night! During the “‘Public Comments” part of the meeting, while citizens gave their impassioned thoughts on subjects from dog parks to boat launches, nearly every member of our city council was looking down. Were they writing? Were they snoozing? No one can be sure. But their job is to give their ATTENTION to the people who take the time to come out and speak, in public, about a topic that concerns them. I’m embarrassed by the lack of basic manners shown over and over again by the behavior of our mayor and city council.
They don’t need to take notes, they have two paid staff members taking notes during the whole meeting (clerk Susan Weathers and administrator Wendy Gabriel), plus the meeting is recorded. The mayor and council should be making eye contact, actively listening and asking questions. What do you think?
Government here could be so much better.
Comment by Dan — May 4, 2011 @ 5:59 pm
The photo shows Biden My Time asleep. That’s forgivable.
Many citizens in Coeur d’Alene are ignorant. Ignorant means uninformed, not unintelligent. They’re not stupid, only unintentionally ignorant simply because they do not have time to pay close attention to the misdeeds of the Mayor and Council. They’re also unintentionally ignorant because our local and regional news/views/skewspapers intentionally keep them that way. Necessarily, many citizens trust our Mayor and Council because they really have no choice. In that regard, citizen ignorance is also forgiveable. Their trust is being betrayed.
Our Mayor and City Council intentionally ignore citizen input unless it conforms with what the Mayor and Council want to hear. Their intentional ignorance is completely unforgivable. Their intentional ignorance is an intentional betrayal of citizen trust and confidence. In the case of our Mayor and Councilmembers, their intentional ignorance of citizen input does equate with stupidity.
Government here will not get better until Bloem and the six Headnodders are replaced by officials who honor and respect their constituents rather than prey on them and exploit them.
Comment by Bill — May 4, 2011 @ 7:17 pm
Susie Snedaker sat right near me in the audience. We watched as the mayor and council virtually ignored one citizen speaker after another, all the while keeping their heads down and making motions like maybe they were writing…? Then Susie walked to the podium. She gave some constructive suggestions about traffic flow downtown, in light of the proposed street closures in the McEuen plan. Nearly every council member and the mayor had their heads downcast; nary a one was making eye contact with her.
So Susie shocked the council by saying boldly, “Shall I simply assume you are paying attention?” (It was hilarious because the whole council jolted upright and the audience had an audible, supportive chuckle!) Kennedy could hardly hold back a laugh, then he and Woody actually listened to Susie for the remainder of her remarks. The mayor and the rest of the council went back to their papers.
Comment by mary — May 4, 2011 @ 7:52 pm
Good for Mike and Woody!
Comment by Dan — May 4, 2011 @ 8:09 pm
I would add that the council’s practice of hiding behind open laptops appears to be a ruse to distance themselves from the audience in addition to providing them with a diversion. This practice simply indicates to me the council’s disdain for the general public.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — May 5, 2011 @ 6:47 am
Susie,
Elevating themselves on a stage and hiding behind the flipped-up screens on laptops reveals their self-perception of superiority as well as their need to hide behind something that will protect them from those who elected them.
Comment by Bill — May 5, 2011 @ 7:33 am
What do I think? Business as usual. And this surprises anyone because? This, as are all of their plans, is a done deal. This is a small minded boorish bunch of nobodies. Where I come from they would be squished like the slugs they are.
And yes, you rock Susie. That Marlborough training never goes away.
Comment by rochereau — May 5, 2011 @ 8:20 am
Question for those who were there: When Joe Morris spoke to the council, did they look down or did they look at Mr. Morris?
Comment by Dan — May 5, 2011 @ 9:00 am
When you play on-line solitaire it requires your utmost attention.
Comment by Wallypog — May 5, 2011 @ 9:58 am
During the last city council election, Steve Adams, Jim Brannon, Joe Kunka and I thought it would be a great idea that if we all won, we would disassemble the dais in the Library and re-assemble it on ground level to be eye-to-eye with the people. Of course, it never happened, but it would have been cool.
Comment by Dan — May 5, 2011 @ 10:53 am
The city council and especially the Mayor continue to show how rude and ignorant they are. Good for you Susie. I think from now one everyone that goes to the podium should demand that the members close their notebooks and at least look at and acknowledge the speaker, anything else is rude and crude and arrogant.
The city needs a wake up call. They came begging us for a job (to be elected to represent us) and now treat the public (that pays their wages) like insignificant bugs (unless it is in their interest), and you have lots of money.
Comment by Jullee — May 5, 2011 @ 12:43 pm
No kudos earned for Kennedy. He said “he lost interest” in Susie’s comments after she asked for the Council’s attention. His comments can be read over at the huck site. Council needs a wake up call with election defeat.
Comment by LTR — May 5, 2011 @ 1:13 pm