Is the council listening?

I find it useless to go to town council meetings.

This it how goes. You arrive. The mayor may smile at you.

You get your three minutes of time. Someone times you. The bodies at the front tables may stare at you. Or not.

But they don’t respond. Not then. Not ever. (One intrepid council person does sometimes respond later in the meeting but the council, particularly the fellow who sits next to mayor, shoots him down. Almost always.

In the last couple years a group has grown that wants to improve things here in terms of community involvement – in terms of affordable housing. In terms of fairness and transparency. And the bodies at the front continue to stare. (The group grew out of a neighborhood need but evolved into wanting to learn how things work – or don’t – here).

We asked for a special planning commission meeting to actually have a dialogue. (Back in the day we sat together in a square format and conversed). Much to our surprise, the planning commission granted it.

But the council did an end run and scheduled their special meeting to undo the planning commission special meeting.

I learned since these are the reasons they gave. No planning commission quorum. There was. It wasn’t proper process, they said. (Check RCW 42.30.080.) Oh – and the weirdest complaint – the planning commission action happened as the last thing in their meeting.

And the council said the special meeting would not get everyone there.

Seriously? When have they ever cared? They don’t’ seem to like people there. Have they not been listening when I have asked them for more outreach? Have they not read my editorials encouraging people to go to meetings? The community meetings organized by the communications committee were pretty feel-good but they are powerless. They are a distraction!

Why would they think that continuing to do things exactly the same time after time would have a different outcome?

What was it that Einstein said about that?

“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”

Linda Talman

La Conner