It never ceases to amaze me what the News & Record will print in its letters to the editor. I'm of the opinion I could write an LTE stating the sky is falling and the N&R would print it as if it were true then hid behind the "fact" that it was a reader's opinion when called on it. Take Friday's letter by Reid Phillips where Mr Phillips erroneously states:
"Worse, those same three or four cranks are crowding out other speakers — people who have fresh ideas and fresh perspectives that are of genuine interest."
A complete falsehood. To date, not one speaker has been crowded out. Not one. Speakers from the floor present near the beginning of each council meeting and not once since the current council took office have any speakers from the floor been turned away. At most council meetings the very speakers the Mayor is attempting to limit are the only speakers from the floor speaking on topics that are not on the agenda. The same 3 or 4 speakers the Mayor wants to limit are often the only 3 or 4 speakers signed up for non agenda items. Folks, 3 or 4 speakers equates to 9 to 12 minutes total. Mr Phillips should get his facts straight BEFORE he writes LTEs. No one else has lost the right to speak, not one person.
This isn't about giving others the chance to speak, it's about silencing critics. As a matter of fact it didn't even come up until Charles Cherry pointed out in public that Mayor Perkins is a deadbeat dad.
There was one occasion where the Mayor asked speakers who were speaking on a particular agenda items late in the evening, to volunteer not to speak and being there were so many better prepared speakers speaking for my side of the argument I volunteered not to speak but that was hours after speakers from the floor had all finished presenting.
And the News & Record should fact check their letters before putting them in print.
Update: Roch learns more amazing details!
"Worse, those same three or four cranks are crowding out other speakers — people who have fresh ideas and fresh perspectives that are of genuine interest."
A complete falsehood. To date, not one speaker has been crowded out. Not one. Speakers from the floor present near the beginning of each council meeting and not once since the current council took office have any speakers from the floor been turned away. At most council meetings the very speakers the Mayor is attempting to limit are the only speakers from the floor speaking on topics that are not on the agenda. The same 3 or 4 speakers the Mayor wants to limit are often the only 3 or 4 speakers signed up for non agenda items. Folks, 3 or 4 speakers equates to 9 to 12 minutes total. Mr Phillips should get his facts straight BEFORE he writes LTEs. No one else has lost the right to speak, not one person.
This isn't about giving others the chance to speak, it's about silencing critics. As a matter of fact it didn't even come up until Charles Cherry pointed out in public that Mayor Perkins is a deadbeat dad.
There was one occasion where the Mayor asked speakers who were speaking on a particular agenda items late in the evening, to volunteer not to speak and being there were so many better prepared speakers speaking for my side of the argument I volunteered not to speak but that was hours after speakers from the floor had all finished presenting.
And the News & Record should fact check their letters before putting them in print.
Update: Roch learns more amazing details!
