Putnam: Say what? 9-year-old muzzled at Lansing council meeting

[j-mac]

Monday dished up the wrong kind of civics lesson to a fourth-grader.

snip

“I have strong feelings about the role of children and what their role should be. I don’t believe that 9-year-old children should be giving public comment. I just don’t,” Spitzley said in a phone interview Wednesday.

Putnam: Say what? 9-year-old muzzled at Lansing council meeting

Horrible PR....And from my 'hometown'....Sad to see...

Lansing was the first in the State to become a 'Sanctuary city' and with leadership like this it is fully believable....

 

[Hawkeye10]

I dont want to see fourth graders mouthing off to city leaders either. We need to get back to standards.

 

[j-mac]

I dont want to see fourth graders mouthing off to city leaders either. We need to get back to standards.

Mouthing off? That little girl wanted to give a statement to the city council about how she and other kids her age were going to be effected by the shuttering of two city parks so that a golf course could expand and create more revenue to the government....Great lesson to teach her about civics.

 

[nota bene]

Horrible PR....And from my 'hometown'....Sad to see...

Lansing was the first in the State to become a 'Sanctuary city' and with leadership like this it is fully believable....

I've attended many city council meetings, so my first question was whether this occurred during the "citizens speak" time. And it was. So long as her remarks were timed into compliance, I don't see the problem. I'm guessing that with all the negative publicity now, Spivley gets it.

 

[Fenton Lum]

I dont want to see fourth graders mouthing off to city leaders either. We need to get back to standards.

We ceratinly cannot have citizens growng up thinking "leaders" serve the people; this must be stamped out early on. Authoritarianism = americanism.

 

[j-mac]

I've attended many city council meetings, so my first question was whether this occurred during the "citizens speak" time. And it was. So long as her remarks were timed into compliance, I don't see the problem. I'm guessing that with all the negative publicity now, Spivley gets it.

And she should IMHO....

 

[Hawkeye10]

Mouthing off? That little girl wanted to give a statement to the city council about how she and other kids her age were going to be effected by the shuttering of two city parks so that a golf course could expand and create more revenue to the government....Great lesson to teach her about civics.

It sure is......the way government has long worked is that kids dont vote and anyone who has neither a vote nor money to hand over has no power.

Our government ****s over kids constantly, to the point that the federal government conducts generational warfare.

Let's not pretend otherwise.

 

[nota bene]

The young lady, Charli, hoped to speak on an issue that has an impact on kids, a new entrance to a golf course that would go through a park where she and other children play.

 

[j-mac]

It sure is......the way government has long worked is that kids dont vote and anyone who has neither a vote nor money to hand over has no power.

Our government ****s over kids constantly, to the point that the federal government conducts generational warfare.

Let's not pretend otherwise.

Well, PR wise...What skin off her nose is it to let the kid have her say? Made her cry....Nice....

 

[Grand Mal]

It sure is......the way government has long worked is that kids dont vote and anyone who has neither a vote nor money to hand over has no power.

Our government ****s over kids constantly, to the point that the federal government conducts generational warfare.

Let's not pretend otherwise.

This is government at a local, municipal level. That girl just learned a lesson, alright- she learned to resent and mistrust authority. Personally.

 

[Hawkeye10]

I've attended many city council meetings, so my first question was whether this occurred during the "citizens speak" time. And it was. So long as her remarks were timed into compliance, I don't see the problem. I'm guessing that with all the negative publicity now, Spivley gets it.

Maybe maybe not....blacks still tend to favor spanking in spite of all the hostility they face for doing so, these opinions about the proper handling of children run strong with them.

 

[jimbo]

I dont want to see fourth graders mouthing off to city leaders either. We need to get back to standards.

Spitzley is wrong. AFAIK there are no age related requirements for speaking at public meetings.

What standards would you propose?

 

[Fenton Lum]

This is government at a local, municipal level. That girl just learned a lesson, alright- she learned to resent and mistrust authority. Personally.

Good for every american child to unerstand; that ours is an autoritarian system.

 

[jimbo]

It sure is......the way government has long worked is that kids dont vote and anyone who has neither a vote nor money to hand over has no power.

Our government ****s over kids constantly, to the point that the federal government conducts generational warfare.

Let's not pretend otherwise.

That's not true. I've sat through dozens of public meetings. People get their say. No one ever asked me whether I paid taxes or voted. Or even is I had an interest in the issue at all.

Public meetings are public,

 

[nota bene]

And people don't just get up and speak extemporaneously either, at least not in my experience. Citizen input (with the exception of muttering, LOL) is limited to a specified portion of the meeting. Those who hope to speak have to sign up. And they come prepared and practiced, generally. I know because I've vetted, timed, written, or at least polished many of those speeches.

 

[Grand Mal]

Good for every american child to unerstand; that ours is an autoritarian system.

It's a coin toss- will these kinds of lessons make a rebellious liberal or an obedient conservative?

 

[jimbo]

And people don't just get up and speak extemporaneously either, at least not in my experience. Citizen input (with the exception of muttering, LOL) is limited to a specified portion of the meeting. Those who hope to speak have to sign up. And they come prepared and practiced, generally. I know because I've vetted, timed, written, or at least polished many of those speeches.

That's my experience. I worked planning and zoning as an expert and so was not involved in the public portion except to listen. In my county you signed up to speak. I've been in others where the floor was open to all. That often depends on the popularity of the issue. There were several regulars who used the meetings as a social outlet.

 

[nota bene]

That's my experience. I worked planning and zoning as an expert and so was not involved in the public portion except to listen. In my county you signed up to speak. I've been in others where the floor was open to all. That often depends on the popularity of the issue. There were several regulars who used the meetings as a social outlet.

Not that it wasn't great to see like-minded concerned citizens--often, wildly different groups will come together in common cause, which is wonderful, but there isn't much socialization unless this is before or after the meeting. City council and county commissioner meetings in my county have enforced protocols. You don't go over your allotted minutes, for example. There is a little flexibility when there is an awards segment and family members show up (and then leave). I wonder if the meetings are controlled as they are because they're shown on the city's TV channel.

 

[ludin]

It sure is......the way government has long worked is that kids dont vote and anyone who has neither a vote nor money to hand over has no power.

Our government ****s over kids constantly, to the point that the federal government conducts generational warfare.

Let's not pretend otherwise.

that is because we have deemed that kids are not responsible for certain things.
this is a violation of her 1st amendment rights. she has a right to address the city council if she wishes.

he is a citizen she has a right to talk. now her parents should make sure that what she is saying is respectful but
she does have a right to talk.

 

[Top Cat]

I dont want to see fourth graders mouthing off to city leaders either. We need to get back to standards.

Yes, I can see how you wouldn't like being embarrassed by a 9 year old.

 

[Quazimodo]

This is government at a local, municipal level. That girl just learned a lesson, alright- she learned to resent and mistrust authority. Personally.

Or, maybe she learned that you can't always get what you want. (But if you try sometimes well.......)

 

[Dittohead not!]

I dont want to see fourth graders mouthing off to city leaders either. We need to get back to standards.

What that particular city "leader" seems to have forgotten is that he is a public servant, not a public master.

 

[year2late]

Given the current political climate...I thought she was literally muzzled.:lamo

 

[Hawkeye10]

Yes, I can see how you wouldn't like being embarrassed by a 9 year old.

wow..

 

[EMNofSeattle]

This is government at a local, municipal level. That girl just learned a lesson, alright- she learned to resent and mistrust authority. Personally.

She learned an important lesson, when democrats make decisions the people's job is to shut up and accept it.

These public comment sessions are a waste of time anyway. They're purely for show, the decision was made before the meeting was even scheduled. The important takeaway....