Bring Back Our Televised Public Comments

Pueblo City Council's recent rule change to eliminate the public comments section of the regular council session was implemented with the tactical precision of a military coup. Like any well run political takeover, our rights to freedom of speech were snuffed out quickly, quietly and without any opportunity for public input. Then, like some third-world nation in the banana belt, they took control of the television station. After all, no coup worth its salt can go off if you don't silence your opponents by seizing control of the TV station.

The willingness of this council to deny citizens the opportunity to address their city leaders for a few brief minutes at the beginning of the regular council meeting is a sign of pure arrogance. The public forum appears to have become an intolerable burden for some council members who are forced to painfully to listen to members of the community who dare to approach with their tedious comments and problems.

In one bold stroke that lasted only a few minutes, a partial council threw out years of Pueblo tradition and free speech by eliminating our right to speak out and be heard with equal coverage. Dissenting views have been silenced from the public view by pushing them into the non-televised work sessions that nobody ever sees or hears. Allowing these comments to be broadcast over the public access cable network is an important part of the process because many people benefit from listening to the views of their fellow citizens. Without the ability to hear the views of other citizens, then we will only hear the voice of city council. Our tax dollars are paying for this televised access and now we only get half our money's worth and one side of the story.

It should come as no surprise that these arrogant rule changes were adopted without any public input. This measure was passed as a resolution during a single council session and without a public hearing. Since council used a resolution to push this through they are not bound to require a first and second reading, or a public hearing. With only five of seven members present, we didn't even get to be represented by a full city council on this matter.

This change is a major step backwards and presents a serious challenge to freedom of speech in this community. We simply cannot afford to sit back and let this go unchallenged. Unfortunately, if you go and complain at the city council work session, nobody will ever even know about it. Under these rules the old adage: "I'd complain, but who'd listen." takes on a whole new meaning.

Chris Nicoll
Pueblo, CO