It was definitely "Mob Rule" last Tuesday night at the City Council and it has been that way quite a few times since I have been attending for a year and a half.
For instance, when I spoke back in April of 2007 and here are the notes from the City website
LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
April 10, 2007
Sherry Marquez – She has come to Council meetings repeatedly, begging for something to be done regarding the crime in this community. Her family has been put at risk by gangs and streets are not safe. Mr. LaSala has done some great things for the City. However, every time she has come to Council requesting a substation or a Deputy Sheriff at a Wal-Mart parking lot or anything, Mr. LaSala would state that we don’t want to give the people a false sense of security; we don’t want to just put officers in patrol cars. She does want this and wants her family to be safe. She thanked Council Member Smith for holding true to his promises from his campaign to put more deputies on the streets at the expense of more programs. Mr. LaSala needs to hear what the people have to say and on February 26, 2007, many people said they are fed up with crime in the Antelope Valley. Requested that Captain Deeley stay the course, as great things have been done, continue on.
All the while I was talking, I was booed, hissed, told to sit down, and shut up by the citizens in the audience. Then Bob Wilson in the AV Press repeatedly reported
that I spoke out against Bob LaSala at City Council meetings. This was the only time I spoke out publicly about Mr. LaSala and it was not an attack in my opinion - I was stating facts from being at the City Council meetings. I stayed til it was all over with unlike many of those citizens that come, shout, point fingers, throw things, curse, and then leave before the meeting is over.
In fact, at one of the City Council meetings involving Bob LaSala, I had two elderly ladies sitting next to me asking me, "Where is the petition, we need to sign it and leave because we have tickets to LPAC. We just came because someone told us to come and sign the petition." They had no clue why they were signing a petition.
Also, this last Tuesday night, many of those speaking did not adhere to the 3 minute rule, I have had to try to say all I want in 3 minutes and stick to it and they should too. There should not be any exceptions. If you want to be fully heard then stage a press conference.
Without rules there is anarchy and that is what was displayed last Tuesday night. The citizens say we're not heard, but they seldom stay after to try and talk to anyone about their concerns.
Just my observation.
Sherry
PS - I encourage everyone to attend the City Council meetings. They are held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday evening at 6pm at 44933 Fern Ave. in the Council Chambers.
Even televised you cannot grasp the entire meeting as it doesn't show everthing happening. For instance, the televised meeting 3/25/08 doesn't capture the full effect of the Mob Rule that evening. Experience it for yourself!