The lack of definition ONCE AGAIN Around Town, posted by Community courtesy, a resident of another community, on Jun 13, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Dear Dolores,
No comment from district 3 and no coverage from media. Curious?
A MAC undefined by district 3 is the repeated reality of our local politics. Even though we are not involved as community of neighborhoods, we might expect media and district 3 at least to define some level of their political intentions.
Didn't happen, quite as usual, by a district 3 representative that works for us and we DON'T work for district 3.
Posted by Community courtesy, a resident of another community, on Jun 15, 2009 at 9:19 am
Dear Dolores, FYI to your readers:
Contra Costa County has reminded all county advisory committee and council members of their obligations to county communications policy and the Brown Act. As a result, communications with individual residents and groups has been restricted. Current MAC proponents, as psuedonyms, are now restricted from commentary on your Forum.
In affect, such advisory committee and council members are restricted from communication with the communities they are to serve. Thus, no definition of a MAC or its intended agenda will be available to our community of neighborhoods.
Once again, "is there any question about the importance of a strong AIA and a stronger community of neighborhoods?"
Posted by Alamo Ron, a resident of the Alamo neighborhood, on Jun 15, 2009 at 9:49 am
Hal needs to do a little research.
For the specifics of definition of MACs, please refer to the document, "Municipal Advisory Council Policies" available on the County website. Here's the URL Web Link
For the specifics of freedom of speech (which by the way are not suppressed for members of MACs or members of other county advisory bodies - see below) please refer to the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights.
And if that's not enough protection (it is), the Contra Costa County Better Government Ordinance Section 25-2.606 specifies the following:
===========
Public comment by members of policy bodies.
Every member of a policy body retains the full constitutional rights of a citizen to comment publicly on the wisdom or propriety of government actions, including those of the policy body of which he or she is a member. This county shall not sanction, reprove or deprive members of their rights as elected or appointed officials for expressing their judgments or opinions, including those which deal with the perceived inconsistency of nonpublic discussions, communications or actions with the requirements of state or federal law or of this division.
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Hal would like you to believe that the county will hold MAC members in a vice-like dictatorial grip but that is just another one of his little fantasies.
Posted by Hal Bailey, a resident of another community, on Jun 15, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Dear Dolores,
Neighbors have been filling my e-mail with special notice of the concise content Ron included in his message. We should be thankful for such content and contribution.
Neighbors, in review of the county reminder to council and committee members, noted that such members cannot comment on public issues under their identity as a committee member nor may they communicate privately is their role as a member without violation of the Brown Act.
Responses from various members contacted by neighbors confirmed that a political issue exists for any member that comments as a private citizen or a committee or council member. "If I want to keep my appointment, I have been told to cease commentary" was the response of one such member.
Posted by Informed Resident, a resident of another community, on Jun 17, 2009 at 12:37 am
Hal,
You want to talk definitions? How about starting with the definition of a forum?
"Internet forum"
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site.[1]
From a technological standpoint, forums or boards are web applications managing user-generated content.[4][5]
So why would you start all of your comments with Dear Delores? This is not a letter to the editor page.
Next, you once again want to set the rules. Are you running this website or just participating in it? You seem to be at odds.
It is your nature to twist the incidentals which is again demonstrated in your post. More conspiracy theory...this time including insinuations that are inclusive of unsubstantiated quotes. It reminds me of a school aged child running around tattling on classmates.
Posted by Community courtesy, a resident of another community, on Jun 17, 2009 at 7:25 am
Dear Dolores,
Let me clarify my purpose as keeping you informed of the attitudes and humor of regional neighborhoods and providing issues and concerns for other commentary in support of your journalism. Of course, quite often in the heat of "defamously speaking," being Halamo, the Alamo Towne Fool, is celebration of the humor of such commentary.
For those that seek my personal answers, they may contact me at halbailey@yahoo.com.
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