Pueblo Citizens for Open Government is looking for volunteers who can carry petitions for a November ballot initiative that would reestablish a public forum prior to the commencement of the regular televised Pueblo City Council meetings. The measure seeks to encourage free speech and the free flow of ideas by making the meetings more accessible and available to Pueblo’s citizens.
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 non-televised work session meetings. This action was taken in a single meeting without any opportunity for public input.
City Council Member Judy Weaver was quoted in the newspaper saying, "People have to understand that this is our meeting being held in public; it's not a public meeting," Weaver said. - September 29 Pueblo Chieftain.
We believe that Pueblo City Council meetings are in fact public and that the citizens of Pueblo should be allowed to speak on camera so that people watching from home on public access TV are allowed to hear their comments.
If you are a registered voter who lives in the Pueblo City limits and are interested in carrying a petition please contact: Chris Nicoll (719) 248-4198 or send an email to pueblofreespeech@gmail.com
