Almost 60 percent of people responding to the Argus-Courier’s online poll Nov. 19, 2009 think public meetings are becoming less civil.
Of those responding, 58.7 percent said meetings were less civil. Only 4.35 percent believed meetings were more civil.
A like number said decorum at public meetings had changed for the worse, while only 8.7 percent believed decorum had gotten better.
However, respondents do not believe additional rules will help, with only 36.96 percent saying additional rules are needed.
These are some of the comments by those who responded to the poll.
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“All council members, current and prior, need to stick a sock in it! There has been a serious downturn in civility since the council became a male majority.”
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“Some push the limits of council public comment. It is up to the mayor/vice mayor to chastise the speakers. On the dais, four, so far, are running for office. Drama, posturing and emotion are inevitable.”
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“I believe citizens are becoming more involved, educated and pro-active than they have been in the past, which tends to lead to very passionate discussions.”
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“I guess it becomes uncivil when those in control don’t want to hear a dissenting opinion. The ‘progressive’ activists have been using this tactic for years. They call it civil disobedience. No changes.”
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“It’s normal for the ‘conservatives’ and ‘crony capitalists’ to freak out when they don’t get their way and make the ‘progressives’ nervous. You gotta stay on your feet or be made a fool of.”
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“It sounds like people are significantly polarized on many issues, and their frustration is apparent. It may be that our government needs to do less — especially when consensus can’t be reached.”
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“Many cities have a code of conduct for the council and boards. First thing to do is get the city manager off the dais. He is not elected. He is appointed, and should sit with the city attorney.”
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“Maybe we should give a course on civility and how to run a meeting to our council majority and mayor. Maybe if they followed the basic rules on meetings, there wouldn’t be so much of a problem.”
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“The council needs to work together, and at times compromise on issues. If everything becomes an issue, then nothing will be accomplished. Can’t we all just get along?”
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“There is a protocol and Robert’s Rules of Order for a reason. The public has the right to give their opinion, even if the rest of the people in the room don’t agree. It is only three minutes.”
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“These are career politicians with their own agendas. I have lived in Petaluma since 1974, and every City Council has had its public conflicts within its ranks, and this group is no different.”
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“There shouldn’t have to be rules for people to realize they should behave themselves at public meetings. Unfortunately, the worst offender wants us to elect him mayor next fall.”
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“These are career politicians with their own agendas. I have lived in Petaluma since 1974, and every city council has had its public conflicts within its ranks, and this group is no different.”
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“Those appointed to the council seats should start listening. I watch PCA regularly, and what do I see? Residents passionately voicing their opinion, and the council members brushing them off, not listening.”
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“We need a mayor who can handle contentious matters without storming out of the room.”
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“You are responding to an isolated incident by a man who is the textbook definition of a loose cannon. Couldn’t you come up with something more pertinent?”
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“Mr. Glass needs to calm his demeanor, listen respectfully and keep an open mind instead of being an argumentative, insulting, arrogant bully.”
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“Petaluma’s Bryant Moynihan is the poster boy of someone degrading the process for personal reasons. However, the system works and we take the bad with the good.”
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“Keep Moynihan at home, and keep Rabbitt from going off on his rants (in meetings or online) and meetings will improve 100 percent.”
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“Anytime Bully Boy Bryant Moynihan is allowed to hijack a City Council meeting to allow his insane ideas to be expressed is a recipe for less civil meetings. That teabagger is our local teabagger rep.”
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“Political/seasonal hunting ‘issues’ that the Argus-Courier is starting to bring up are so petty and desperate.”
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“Rabble rousers like I-Don’t-Care-If-The-Town-Goes-Bankrupt Moynihan need to learn their manners or be given the boot.”