I sent an email about Ex-Parte Communications to all of you on the dais on August 19 and got zero response. I take it seriously enough to make my concern and request known the public. It’s been on my mind, and a topic of interest among my neighbors, for awhile. I hope you’ll accept it in the spirit of raising our civic discourse as it is meant.
As a self-appointed government transparency and Brown Act activist, I respectfully request that all of our elected Council Members and City Commissioners be both more expansive and specific in describing their ex-parte communications. If the intention is to tell the public to whom you’ve been speaking, and about what, in fulfillment of your public duties, simply saying “I spoke to members of the public, or City Staff” seems vastly uninformative, especially when every single person on the dais says it. The public has no more information about the communications which inform the context of your positions on public issues than we did before you made those statements. If the intention is to conceal your communications and affiliations, rather than reveal them; mission accomplished.
If you spoke to members of a particular organization, that’s relevant.
If you spoke to residents affected by a proposed ordinance, that’s relevant.
If you had a City Staffer share their input on an agenda item, that’s relevant.
Sharing this information with the public is even more important if a Council Member or Commissioner does not participate in the public discussion of that agenda item, which may indicate that her/his mind was already made up as to what their vote would be before the public meeting started. I’m asking every elected and appointed official to comply not just with the letter of the law, but with the spirit of the law.
In his recent online event, Mayor Brand announced that a new public shower had been installed near the hand boat launch in our Harbor. He quipped excitedly that “Harbor revitalization has begun!” Seriously, is that our plan for Harbor revitalization: a shower? The Mayor also said in that same meeting that he “loves developers.” So, Mr. Mayor, where are the development plans you promised the citizens for our Harbor and Pier area? Do you have a vision for the area beyond the divestiture, dilapidation and austerity that we now have? Our quality of life is suffering. Redondo Beach citizens deserve better.
Maggie Healy, Redondo Beach
I sent an email about Ex-Parte Communications to all of you on the dais on August 19 and got zero response. I take it seriously enough to make my concern and request known the public. It’s been on my mind, and a topic of interest among my neighbors, for awhile. I hope you’ll accept it in the spirit of raising our civic discourse as it is meant.
As a self-appointed government transparency and Brown Act activist, I respectfully request that all of our elected Council Members and City Commissioners be both more expansive and specific in describing their ex-parte communications. If the intention is to tell the public to whom you’ve been speaking, and about what, in fulfillment of your public duties, simply saying “I spoke to members of the public, or City Staff” seems vastly uninformative, especially when every single person on the dais says it. The public has no more information about the communications which inform the context of your positions on public issues than we did before you made those statements. If the intention is to conceal your communications and affiliations, rather than reveal them; mission accomplished.
If you spoke to members of a particular organization, that’s relevant.
If you spoke to residents affected by a proposed ordinance, that’s relevant.
If you had a City Staffer share their input on an agenda item, that’s relevant.
Sharing this information with the public is even more important if a Council Member or Commissioner does not participate in the public discussion of that agenda item, which may indicate that her/his mind was already made up as to what their vote would be before the public meeting started. I’m asking every elected and appointed official to comply not just with the letter of the law, but with the spirit of the law.
Sara Martin
District 1
In his recent online event, Mayor Brand announced that a new public shower had been installed near the hand boat launch in our Harbor. He quipped excitedly that “Harbor revitalization has begun!” Seriously, is that our plan for Harbor revitalization: a shower? The Mayor also said in that same meeting that he “loves developers.” So, Mr. Mayor, where are the development plans you promised the citizens for our Harbor and Pier area? Do you have a vision for the area beyond the divestiture, dilapidation and austerity that we now have? Our quality of life is suffering. Redondo Beach citizens deserve better.
Maggie Healy, Redondo Beach