Update:Thanks to everyone showing their support for letting the public voice be heard the City Council has decided to reconsider the issue. Check out Sacramento City Council Reconsiders Public Comment for more.

Dear Friend of Loaves & Fishes,

We need your help!

We are concerned about a proposed change regarding Sacramento City Council meetings. Currently, people wishing to address the Council on items not on the agenda may address the council (for 2 minutes each) at the 6 PM start of the evening’s agenda. The Council has voted to move the open comment period back to the very end of the agenda-which is sometimes very late at night, and discourages people from bringing their issues before the elected body that is supposed to represent them. This action is directly targeted against Safe Ground’s homeless activists who have been speaking before the Council every week about the need for Safe Ground and yet another attempt to disenfranchise Safe Ground’s homeless activists, and others with little power. It will impact all organizations and citizens who also use the public comment period to raise timely issues with the Council, and awareness about their concerns.

We have had the opportunity to watch as the public addresses the Council. It is truly moving to hear ordinary people speak up for themselves. Some are articulate; some are visibly nervous; each has a point to make. It is a pure form of democracy in action to be cherished. Yet the City Council’s action shows their lack of respect for their constituents. The amount of time that Public Comment takes is not long – usually well under 20 minutes.

To their credit, Mayor Johnson and Councilmembers Kevin McCarty and Ray Tretheway voted against this change. Steve Cohn was absent so did not vote. Councilmembers Waters, Pannell, Sheedy, Fong and Hammond unfortunately did vote for this change.

The Sacramento Bee’s editorial opposing the change is here:City Council Play Meeting Games

We are asking as many individuals and groups as we can get to turn out next Tuesday evening, August 31st at 6pm at City Hall and express their opposition to the change. If you can make it to the next meeting, we would appreciate your support for keeping the Public Comment period at the front of the weekly agendas. Your presence alone will show support; you’re also welcome to speak to the Council if you wish.

Thank you for anything you can do! Please forward this information to anyone who you think will attend and/or call or email their City Council representatives and voice their opposition to the change.

Contact info for our City Council representatives is below.

Mayor Kevin Johnson– This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.5300

District 1, Ray Tretheway- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.7001

District 2, Sandy Sheedy– This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.7002

District 3, Steve Cohn– This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.7003

District 4, Robert King Fong– This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.7004

District 5, Lauren Hammond– This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.7005

District 6, Kevin McCarty– This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.7006

District 7, Robbie Waters– This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.7007

District 8, Bonnie Pannell– This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 916.808.7008