Sorry this one is a little late but I wanted to make sure we commented on this. The News Times had an editorial in Thursday's paper regarding the lack of taxpayer comments at recent budget meetings. Basically what I got out of the editorial was that people no longer attend or speak up at council and various city meetings because they have a lack of confidence that they can make a difference or that they feel they are not welcomed. The Editor completely discounted the belief that if people don't attend meetings then they are supportive of what is being done. Well not so fast to you News Times Editor, are we living in the same city and attending the same meetings and reading the same editorials in your paper? If people in Danbury have a problem with the way things are being handled and what is being done, believe me they DO NOT wait for an invitation to speak their minds. They shout from the roof tops and they complain to everyone who will listen.
Don't get me wrong, I applaud the 4 people who the editor praised for speaking their minds, but these are the same four people to speak up about everything at almost every public meeting. Now if Mrs. Smith who never comes around unless something is really wrong comes to a public meeting, then that is a big thing.
The fact is I'd be more concerned if people were showing up and complaining. If something is wrong people do speak up and if meetings go unattended, it is a shame, but it doesn't mean that they don't feel like their opinions don't count or that they don't feel welcomed.
People will never be happy, if there is a meeting at 5:30pm people will complain that residents are still at work, if meetings are held at 7pm people will complain that people are having dinner with their families. The point is it doesn't matter what time these meetings are, if people don't support an issue or in this case the budget, they would be there or they would be letting everyone know how they feel.
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7 comments:
Good point dbyblogger, people in Danbury don't bite their tongue when they don't like something. Besides what in the budget would taxpayers not like, it seemed like a good budget to me.
Very reasonable budget - glad to see how the money was disbursed to all the non profits in today's Danbury News Times.
I agree, Boughton Stick To Your Guns!
One other point. The primary meeting referenced in ost of the article dealt with adhoc meetings. Those meetings are for a few council members to gather informatio9n and present it to the entire council for the actual vote of confirmation. Adhoc meetings are open to the public to attend but not necessarily participate in (that is why we in Danbury elect representatives to represent us). The time for public comment came at the public hearing where the 4 spoke and most importantly at the council meeting the first Tuesday night when the council will formally take action.
This is B.S.
I bet the house that you were not at the meeting and the people in Danbury dont come out to these meetings simply because the important ad-hoc committees are scheduled at 5:30 (such as the one the editorial talked about).
Case in point, the city was able to pass a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR bond for a idiotic parking garage and police station with under 1 percent of the vote simply because they kept the whole thing under the radar.
If anything, people are pissed off over stupid 7 year tax abatements, condos popping all over the place and a arrogant republican-controlled common council that doesn't give a damn about the Democrats.
Your arrogance will be your downfall. I can't wait till November.
Looks like you are the same idiot that was posting over at the Dan. People want the Police Station, people want the Parking Garage. You are just mad because the Democrats controlled City Hall for forty years and ignored all of these problems. No guts, no glory.
the last post is correct. The last administration destroyed the city. all of the stupid growth building in Danbury was done with the blessing of Eriquez and the think small Dems.
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