The District Weekly - Latest Comments in MURPHY’S LAW? COUNCIL MAY PAVE OVER LEGACY OF DECEASED CITIZEN WATCHDOG | The District Weekly

Re: MURPHY’S LAW? COUNCIL MAY PAVE OVER LEGACY OF DECEASED CITIZEN WATCHDOG | The District Weekly

Ann Cantrell — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 21:00:45 -0000

Putting this item on the agenda on the night of Thomas Murphy's viewing is not only extremely poor timing, but in terrible taste. I did not always agree with Mr. Murphy's tactics, but I always admired the time and effort he took to read and dissect the agenda. I doubt that anyone else in the city, councilmembers and staff included, knew as much about what was being voted on each week.

This latest effort by the mayor to silence free speech by the public is very scary. The council will do well to remember that what is being done to the public's rights can also happen to you. I have witnessed several instances in which Mayor Foster has attempted to curb a councilmember's time and comments. Be very careful what you vote for--you may be next!

Re: MURPHY’S LAW? COUNCIL MAY PAVE OVER LEGACY OF DECEASED CITIZEN WATCHDOG | The District Weekly

Pat Towner — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:39:04 -0000

I just wonder how far we will go in this City. As an old-time activist I remember when each councilperson spoke on behalf of the entire City, there were no 9 districts. Then in the interest of more responsive government we broke up the City and inherited a titular head, the Mayor, There and then we citizen's lost our impact, for if you cannot please your councilmember, there is very little chance you can appeal to the rest of the council, because they for the most part will defer to the councilmember from that district. Now we have to rely once again on our councilmember, where did open government go. Isn't that what was touted in the Business Journal, the Grunion, the PT? Is this govenment for the many run by the few - and only with their permission?

Re: MURPHY’S LAW? COUNCIL MAY PAVE OVER LEGACY OF DECEASED CITIZEN WATCHDOG | The District Weekly

Eric Bradley — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:53:27 -0000

Public comments from Long Beach residents, however inconvenient it might be to councilmembers, should not be restricted.

Call your councilmembers today and tell them that we elected them to be fair and this agenda item cuts Long Beach residents out of their government! If we don't stop this now, we may learn a few months from now that even more restrictions will be placed on public comment-- maybe to only one minute once a week.

If you don't reach your councilmember today, please join me tomorrow at the City Council meeting for a last stand on this issue. Defend our rights!

Re: MURPHY’S LAW? COUNCIL MAY PAVE OVER LEGACY OF DECEASED CITIZEN WATCHDOG | The District Weekly

Sam_Lowry — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:51:03 -0000

I disagree. Putting restrictions on repeated trips to the podium would streamline council meetings and encourage more people to come down and put their two cents in. Everyone who's gone to a city council meeting with a legitimate beef (e.g, airport expansion, port pollution, big box ban, et cetera) has been held hostage by the same 3 or 4 people, blathering on for hours, albeit in three minute chunks.

Every person in Long Beach should have the right to speak out at council, but three minutes per person per meeting is enough.