Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive
I follow a lot of public meetings in Marin. Perhaps the source of most public angst expressed in those forums comes when elected officials impatiently limit the time for public comment.
The norm in Marin is 3 minutes. It’s sometimes shortened to 2 minutes. Cut it more and you risk revolt. Consider what happened at the San Leandro Unified school district board meeting last week. Many people showed up to protest the firing of a popular principal. They were expecting to get 3 minutes of time to sound off, but the board president, on the fly, shortened it to 1 minute.
Big mistake. The Mercury News reports what happened next: That’s when the meeting “began to devolve. Students shouted down the board president when he tried to cut off one student, a sophomore.”
Soon after, the room broke out into chants and a 15-minute recess was called.
“By the end of that recess, three San Leandro police officers had entered the building, and stood between the students and the board members. That did little to diminish the tension, as students booed their arrival and shouted through megaphones.”
San Leandro is an outlier, of course. Most Marin meetings are, to put it nicely, uneventful. Boring, even. The moral of the story for elected leaders from Sausalito to Novato who are beginning to watch the clock in an attempt to shorten meetings, is this: Best give people their full time. It’s not efficient, but efficiency isn’t the point, is it?
If you can’t deal with public comment, then don’t run for public office.
FLAG PROTOCOL
On Veterans Day, the flag at Town Hall in Fairfax was flown at half mast. The Ross Valley Reporter took calls from citizens pointing out the error and reached out to the town. Town leaders got back to the newspaper after the holiday. They acknowledged the error and blamed the Fire Department for the mistake.
For future reference: On Veterans Day the American flag is to be flown at full mast all day. On Memorial Day, the flag is flown at half mast until noon, then flown at full mast.
SHOCKING
PG&E is asking the state Public Utilities Commission for a 26% rate increase effective Jan. 1. The PUC folks say they can have a rate increase of somewhere between nine and 13%. When the range is between 9% and 26%, stand by for another double-digit hike in rates.
Since 2014, California electric rates jumped 92% and beleaguered rate payers here pay twice as much on average than the rest of the nation. Shocking.
LET’S DO BETTER
Why is it that in this country inhabited by so many inspiring figures – first responders, teachers, peace makers and warriors – we’re always naming public buildings after politicians who have done nothing more than get elected and do their jobs? Seriously, the Nancy Pelosi federal building in San Francisco? The Harry Reid airport in Las Vegas?
Pelosi and Reid had longevity in Washington, D.C., which is fine. But neither of them is inspiring or heroic, if we’re to be completely honest with ourselves. In fact, they are divisive figures on the national scene.
I just think we can do better in naming stuff. This nation is filled with under-recognized heroes of all walks in life. People for whom we can all draw inspiration, now and well into the future.
That’s all I’m saying.
ONE MORE THING
– My family asked me what I was planning on for Thanksgiving. Apparently “having four margaritas before you get here” wasn’t the answer they were looking for.
That’ll do for today. Until next week, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority.
“Properly Subversive” is written by Sherman R. Frederick you can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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