City Council Shuts Down Televised Public Comment Before Election
On September 24th 2007 the Pueblo City Council voted to deny citizens the right to speak during regular televised city council meetings. The ability for citizens to address city council was moved to the work session meetings, which are not televised. This action was taken one month before the municipal election without any opportunity for public input.
The City Council had just placed several controversial issues on the municipal ballot. Dissenting views before the election were silenced as comment was removed from public view. The free exchange of ideas that should occur before any democratic election was brought to a halt by this council's heavy-handed actions!
In a recent article in the Pueblo Chieftain City Council President Judy Weaver dismissed arguments that removing public comment from the television cameras would have a chilling effect on a person's FirstAmendment rights to address their elected officials. "People have tounderstand that this is our meeting being held in public; it's not a public meeting," Weaver said. - September 29 Pueblo Chieftain.
Here are the facts from the public record:
- RESOLUTION NO. 11116 was passed by Pueblo City Council September 24th 2007
- This measure eliminated your right to speak at regular televised city council meetings during the public forum.
- The resolution was presented to council by Mr. Aguilera and seconded by Mrs. Ortegon, who moved to approve the Resolution.
- Who voted for this? – Yes Votes: Aguilera, Ortegon, Thurston, Vidmar and Weaver. Motion carried unanimously. Councilmen Occhiato and Atencio were not present and did not get to vote on this measure.
