LETTER – Listening even when it’s uncomfortable is in the job description
Those were the good old days. (Image: Mel Rothenburger file photo)
Democracy isn’t always easy, but it shouldn’t feel like trying to return an item without a receipt. So what do we make when our rights start shrinking like leftovers in the office fridge?
Kamloops City Council has now permanently shut down citizens’ ability to speak directly to them. That’s not a policy adjustment that’s democracy on airplane mode.
Councillors Bill Sarai, Karpuk, Dale Bass, Hall, Middleton, Neustaeter and O’Reilly voted to silence the public because they were mad at Mayor Hamer-Jackson. Apparently the new conflict-resolution strategy at City Hall is: If you don’t like the mayor, ground the citizens. Bold move.
Democracy is supposed to be a conversation. It means councillors listening even to the people they’d rather avoid, the people with tough questions, and yes, even the guy who quotes bylaws from memory.
But this council seems to be saying: “Dear citizens, please stop talking. No really. Stop.” Emails to councillors disappear. Public meetings are hard to attend. And nothing beats a real, live, in-person conversation something this council now treats like a hazardous material.
Limiting speech isn’t democracy. It’s control dressed up in business casual.
Here’s hoping next election Kamloops votes for councillors who don’t flinch when the public speaks. Listening even when it’s uncomfortable is literally the job description.
GARRY DAVIES
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Gary, this is really pathetic isn’t it?
9 run for public service as council members. 8 end up not wanting to hear from the public.
And to blame it on the Mayor… council actually rarely responds to emails, calls etc. They have shown from the start that they have a contempt for those they serve and that they had little interest in hearing from taxpayers.
Hearing from the public, as public servants, is the last thing most of these councillors want to do.
And for Bill Sarai to constantly compare Kamloops to other municipalities when seeking to muzzle public input. Are you comfortable being the monkey see monkey do councillor, or are you the “bold” council you constantly say you are, and can find your own way? Maybe show leadership and be an example for other municipalities to open their doors to the public the claim to serve?
Council doesn’t want to hear from you. They just want to dip into your pockets and spend the decadence on whatever they see fit – your voice and opinion be damned.
This contemptuous council needs to be tossed out at the earliest opportunity as they have completely refused to internalize that they serve at the pleasure of the public.
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And will the silenced public be funding the annual Christmas dinner for the councillors and their significant others? If only we knew where they will be fed and how much the tab will be.
More silence on that one too Garry.
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