There once was a time when
”
Town Hall Meetings
”
were considered the epitome of a democratic society. It was the
chance for people of all political beliefs and backgrounds to come
together and talk with their elected officials about issues that
were important to them.
There once was a time when “Town Hall Meetings” were considered the epitome of a democratic society. It was the chance for people of all political beliefs and backgrounds to come together and talk with their elected officials about issues that were important to them.
Then along came scum like Karl Rove (he certainly wasn’t the first, he certainly isn’t the only one, but he certainly is the current icon for “Deceptive Democracy”) who figured out that they could fill the seats with people like themselves. Then the Town Hall Meetings, although appearing to be non-partisan, turned into cheerleading exercises and pointless exhibitions.
It appears, in the City of Morgan Hill, we are seeing the democratic process going haywire.
The city council, through city staff, is potentially bringing their like-minded folks together for private meetings in order to do some cheerleading, and to promote their own agenda.
At least that is what could be happening given that many of these meetings will be held outside of the public’s view.
We deserve better.
Democracy 101 would say that town hall meetings are a great opportunity for the city council to set an example.
This is an opportunity for the council to get away from city hall and have an informal format where they can shelve pomp and circumstance.
They can be concerned citizens who are interested in hearing from the people who voted and didn’t vote them into office.
They can let people participate in the democratic process. We deserve to participate in the process. Especially when the topics are higher taxes or reduced city services.
We deserve to hear from our council why the city is in the position it is in.
We deserve to hear about it face to face. But, each meeting should include everyone who wants to participate, and not just those people who run in certain social circles.
The city has said some meetings will be held in private homes or with private groups. This infers exclusion and that is not what democracy is all about.
Will the meetings include the less fortunate people of Morgan Hill?
Those are the people who live in poor conditions in the bad areas of town with their extended families.
Will these meetings be held in the tiny affordable homes inhabited by these residents, who can least afford a new sales tax or increased fees or fewer police responding to their complexes when there is trouble?
Or will they be held in the rarified air of homes such as in Jackson Oaks, Holiday Lake Estates, and the like.
Will they really include everybody, or just the ones city officials think will head to the polls and vote?
So where should these town hall meetings take place? How about in school auditoriums? Or how about the Live Oak or Sobrato High School Gyms? Or how about the Community Center? How about anywhere the public can be guaranteed access?
They wouldn’t be that difficult to coordinate. All we need are people who believe in the democratic process. All we need are people who support the notion that people have the right to be heard. All we need is a council that sees this as an opportunity, and not just a risk.
I am sure that it can happen. Worst-case scenario, it will bring the community of Morgan Hill together.
Or maybe the worst thing that will happen is that neighboring towns will view Morgan Hill as an active community.
Or maybe the worst thing that will happen is that hardly anyone will show up and the council will have their 1,000 or so participants.
Or maybe what will happen is that they may find people don’t want any of their alternatives and just want a city that doesn’t have bigger eyes than its budget.
But whatever happens at least it will be our elected councilmen who are receiving direct feedback, and not the city staff.
Let’s hope that the city council chooses to lead the democratic process and have old fashion town hall meetings, and not follow the deceptive democratic process through a cheerleading, back-slapping exercise.
Democracy 101 implies that is what we deserve.
Gil Mitchell has been a Morgan Hill resident since 1988. His columns occasionally appear in the Morgan Hill Times.
