A&A: The mayor refused to let me make a public comment without identifying myself

Q: Before filing a Brown Act violation against the mayor for denying me the opportunity to speak on an item before the city council because I refused to identify myself before making a public comment.  I would like to get an opinion from your organization on my complaint and the city’s [...]

A&A: Change in public comment policy limits speech

Q: Since January, the local Board Of Education has been systematically trying and often succeeding in suppressing or censoring public comments. For more years than I can count, the Board has provided a democratic, all be it cumbersome, method of accommodating the public’s right to speak on non-agendized items. Speakers were [...]

A&A: Public comment limited to three items on Water Quality Board agenda

Q: A draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit was submitted for comments. A final permit ignored most comments, but made three small changes. The first and only public hearing is coming up , but the agenda states that oral comments will be limited to the three changes. Thus, no important [...]

A&A:Public comments on water rates closed, item still on agenda

Q: The current City Council Agenda contains the following item: “DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS. Introduce and Waive the First Reading of One of the Three Ordinances Relating to Establishing Rates for Water Service Fees.” Here is the problem. We are not being allowed to comment about this item at all, even though it has [...]