Democracy? Nein! (Baker City Council and Staff Violate Guiding Principles)

This clip shows how Baker City government shuts down public participation by people they dont think support their agenda. The meeting is a work session about a new war on the poor property maintenance ordinance. The ex County Judge, (hes the guy in the baseball cap), the Mayor, who adjourned the meeting, and the City Manager (Hes the fellow with his back to the camera) deny me the very right to speak that is proclaimed in their own work session guiding principles, i.e.: "These principles have been created by the Council to ensure that the public may participate in the process" and "At the end of each work session, ten minutes will be set aside for the public to comment on the item at hand." You see, in Baker City, public participation is all about whether or not certain councilors and the City Manager think they are going to like what you have to say. If they think you are supportive of their latest project, you receive a fine reception. If not, they shut you down ASAP, often in a hostile, rude or provocative manner. Note also that although the mayor is supposed to be in charge, the ex-Judge and the City Manager made the immediate decision to violate their own guiding principles. Later the Mayor told me it wouldn't happen again, which, so far, is as close to an apology as the marginalized can get in Baker City.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Baker City
• Baker City Oregon
• democracy
• public participation
• anti-democratic
• autocratic
• chrischristie1948