LBReport.com

Opinion / Perspective

Real Persons Here, Non-Persons Elsewhere



(April 27, 2014) -- "The most important political office is that of the private citizen," said former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis. In our opinion, that principle deserves attention after what took place at the April 22 City Council meeting regarding bluff erosion.

LBREPORT.com earned no awards on this story. We failed to grasp its full importance although we were given notice of it three days before the Council meeting. We were late on the story, later than both the PressTelegram and the Gazettes. Yes, we were reporting other stories at the time, but in terms of timeliness on the bluff erosion story, those two outlets beat us fair and square.

Where our coverage differs from theirs is that we reported the "who" of the story by name. In this story, the "who" are two private citizens. One happens to be a member of City Hall's advisory Sustainable City Commission but she wasn't testifying in that capacity.

When Gordana Kajer came to the City Council public speaking podium, she spoke on a non-agendized item. That means it was a matter that no elected Councilmembers or city staffer considered worthy of Council or public attention. Joe Geever followed her, amplified her testimony and added his own points.


Ms. Kajer

Mr. Geever

Put another way, if Ms. Kajer, and Mr. Geever hadn't spent their personal time, effort and money to provide Councilmembers with color photographs and supportive correspondence regarding bluff erosion (Kajer materials visible here), the entire issue might have escaped public, press and City Hall attention.

Instead, it is now the subject of a specially called April 29 (4:00 p.m.) City Council meeting.

To hear the testimon of Ms. Kajer and Mr. Geever on the non-agendized item and the response of city staff and Councilmembers, click here.

LBREPORT.com told our readers that Ms. Kajer and Mr. Geever did what they did. The PressTelegram called them "some citizens." The Gazettes said "the issue was raised during public comment" and that bluffs' appearance "has residents up in arms."

With all due respect, in our opinion Ms. Kajer and Mr. Geever deserve more than non-personhood here...and this goes beyond bluff erosion. To us, it shows the continuing wisdom -- and relevance -- of what former Supreme Court Justice Brandeis said: that a private citizen holds the most important political office.

Regarding the now-agendized April 29 special Council meeting, we credit five Councilmembers -- Lowenthal, DeLong, O'Donnell, Schipske and Austin -- without whom there would be no special Council meeting to deal with this issue on April 29. More on that aspect of this story separately.

The April 29 special Council meeting item is agendized as: "Recommendation to discuss the Bluff Stabilization Project." LBREPORT.com plans top carry the Council's April 29, 4:00 p.m. special meeting live (as we do all Council meetings) on our front page: www.LBREPORT.com.



blog comments powered by Disqus

Follow LBReport.com w/

Twitter

RSS

Facebook

Return To Front Page

Contact us: mail@LBReport.com



Click for VIDEO and see how Diversified Threat Management private security can help protect your neighborhood and your business. Affordable group rates available.


Need A Plumber, NOW? DrainPros Does It All; Click This Text To See Their Many Services AND Click Below To See Their Current Specials









Ad above provided in the public interest by:


















Carter Wood Floors
Hardwood Floor Specialists
Call (562) 422-2800 or (714) 836-7050




Return To Front Page

Contact us: mail@LBReport.com


Copyright © 2014 LBReport.com, LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use/Legal policy, click here. Privacy Policy, click here