Public Comment

[Editor's Note: The Berkeley City Council voted on April 20 to change these rules despite this April 19 letter from the union which represents city employees]

I am writing on behalf of SEIU 1021 to express our concerns about proposed changes to City Council Rules of Procedure which would have a negative impact on democracy in Berkeley. Specifically we are concerned that the proposed rules would make it significantly harder for members of the public to participate in the public comment process during the meeting by discontinuing the practice of reading emailed comments at the time of the meeting. The City Manager says "the community hasadapted well to the new technology" but it is not true. Affluent, well-resourced, tech-connected parts of the community have adapted well. But those with fewer resources, without broadband access in their homes, those who work swing shifts or other irregUlar schedules, will be negatively impacted by this change. I can not imagine that you intend a change that will disproportionately impact these segments of our community.

And we are equally concerned about a change which prohibits the consideration of new legislation except as narrowly related to Covid. To prohibit new legislation related to homelessness when we are still in a pandemic and homelessness is skyrocketing is counter-productive. To prohibit new legislation related to climate change when we can track back the root causes of this pandemic to climate change is illogical. We are in a crisis of faith in our community and our country related to policing and the disproportionate impacts of policing on black and brown and immigrant community members and to say that you will not entertain any new legislation on the question of how black people are treated by police at this time is unacceptable.

I appreciate Councilmember Hahn's supplemental packet proposing a sunset date and allowing a limited exception for items related to health and public safety. But these do not go far enough. Democracy should not be hindered at all, not even for the four months between now and July. Public health is an important progressive priority, but it is far from the only one. 

I am a proud member of a union that declares that Black Lives Matter, that believes in uplifting our whole community, that is grounded in the principles of democracy. And so I stand with SEIU 1021 in furtherance of these principles and urge you to reject these proposals in item #33 and retain the transparency, civic engagement and democracy that are the cornerstone of your work.