By Lisa Lucas Gardner, J.D. On August 20, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Hi EVERYONE (especially the annonymous readers out there),
Although I personally choose to recognize (but not always acknowledge), all the annonymous readers out there, our town council apparently has a problem with the idea that the elected officials and town employees are very different from me. I am a volunteer community advocate & activist...they are paid representatives of THE PEOPLE, including the annonymous PEOPLE.
I believe that each and every voice in the community, no matter who or what they are, if they are a living, breathing human being in our town, has the right to be heard and responded to by our elected officials. I proposed a 30 day time period for any resident's concerns to be responded to but Councilman Barber (followed by some others), had the opinion that if a concern is annonymous, that concern doesnt deserve a response. I disagree.
What is the big deal? What are they afraid of? 30 days isnt too short of a time to make a phone call or address an issue at a council meeting that an annonymous resident made. If the police department gets an annonymous call about a crime they dont have the right to choose whether or not to respond, neither should our town representives & other employees.
At last night's council meeting the town council members made it clear that they did not have to, and will not, respond to the concerns of annonymous residents. I argued that many people, for many reasons, do not want to, or cannnot come, or for whatever reason, choose not to speak out with their identity. These people may be illiterate, uneducated, shy, mentally ill, employed, no transportation, or simply embarrased to speak out but that doesnt mean their voices and concerns cant be heard.
Am I wrong? I thought that is why we have elected town council members...to listen to the voices of residents, no matter in what shape or form or who or what they are, and to respond to those voices and address the people's concerns. Since when does that mean the concern must be investigated and validated? Are our town employees and representatives part of a crime scene or what? Who makes the rules in a democracy...the people or the government? Last time I checked, WE, THE PEOPLE were.
Th council members excuses ranged from them already being too overwhlemed and busy, to residents can always email us (not all people are computer literate or have access to a computer yet), to people can always write a letter and mail it (not all people can read or write or can afford a stamp), to if the residents dont use their name their concerns arent important enough to worry about. But the problem still exists...the council members think that the resident must sign their name to be heard. I disagree. It doesnt say that anywhere in our town charter and only exists in their minds. WE must change their minds.
If residents wonder why their concerns arent always addressed or acted upon, they better make sure that they use a name in the future. I think Jane Doe or John Doe are people, although fictional, and I believe if they turn out to be residents in this town they are entitled to the respect of our elected representatives, regardless who they are. So, in the future, please make sure you leave a name, any name, attached to your list of concerns. More people need to show up at council meetings with US and participate. If more of US are there, they will begin to listen more.
WE, THE PEOPLE, still need to remind those in power who they work for and represent, not the other way around.