Austin City Hall 

On August 27, the Austin City Council voted to limit an individual’s participation in Citizens Communication to every fourth meeting.  The move, which caught many of us who regularly make use of this platform off guard, was touted as an effort to encourage “new voices.” That despite the fact that the signup process is very impartial, allowing equal access to any and all who are willing to apply (by phone, email or in person) promptly at 9 a.m.  The Council’s stated purpose would have been better served by opening up more speaking opportunities:  currently, Citizens Communication offers only ten 3-minute slots.  A sharp-eyed Fluoride Free Austin activist, Linda Greene, spotted the action item under the improbable rubric “Management Services” and was there in chambers to speak out against it, along with four or five others.  Nobody spoke in favor of the change. Still, it passed unanimously, though with a “friendly amendment” (introduced by Councilmember Chris Riley) creating a “standby” category for regulars otherwise ineligible to speak, should the roster fail to fill up with the preferred candidates. 

At the next meeting, on September 24, I was gratified to see six  “regulars” on the speakers’ list—three of us talking about water fluoridation.  Citizens Communication is definitely an “early bird gets the worm” kind of thing, with those most motivated to speak having an edge. On October 1, five regulars were listed, and I departed from my usual subject  Here’s what I said:  

Good afternoon, Mayor Leffingwell and Councilmembers.  Today I’m going to depart from my usual topic.  Last week I spoke at the first Citizens’ Communication since the Council’s August 27 vote to limit an individual’s speaking opportunity to once in four meetings.  The vote had been billed as a move to “open up Citizens Communication to more people and attract new voices.”  Yet the roster included one newcomer, two people there for the second time, and six who could be termed regulars.  Among the latter, three spoke on my own subject: —water fluoridation.  I was actually surprised by that embarrassment of riches.  But two of us had been added late because a week after official signup there were still speaking slots open.  And today I’m here for the same reason:  unfilled slots on the roster.  Perhaps things will change as more people learn of the new policy.  But that’s how it stands at the moment.   

It’s not my intention, now or ever, to interfere with anybody else’s chances.  Those of us who appear here regularly have a variety of ideas to express. My particular, ongoing purpose is to call attention to a very serious health and environmental issue that usually gets short shrift.  My talks are set up as an educational series that covers different ground each time. 

I’d heard some grumbling that .a certain few were hogging all the time slots and somehow keeping others out.  However, I’ve talked to the ladies in the City Clerk’s office who handle the signups and I can tell you there is no bias in their procedure.  Requests are handled in the order received, period:  This game has only one, very basic rule:  call or email or sign up in the office at 9 a.m. sharp.  Whoever does so will be on par with the “regulars” as far as getting in.  Once I called in just 20 minutes late.  And I didn’t get to speak.  That’s the way it works.  . 

Back in the 1990’s, the Council offered many more Citizens Communication opportunities than it does today, including an afternoon forum.  Restoring some of that access might encourage more widespread participation and turn Citizens’ Communication into the robust public platform we all would like it to be.  Thank you.

Maybe over time more people will learn to take advantage of Citizens Communication to press their own issues.  I hope they do.  And Fluoride Free Austin will find a way to have someone there most weeks.  We've still got a lot of educating to do.