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I wish some people would just move to Detroit already...
IMO sounds similar to MOST city council meetings.
I actually moved FROM there, and saw it firsthand. What you see on youtube is a small representation. It is nothing like most city council meetings, you've obviously never seen some of their antics.
I don't think our leaders are acting immaturely. I think they are grandstanding. And they are being disrespectful to one another.
There can be infighting in any group; people are going to necessarily have differences of opinions. However, it is very disconcerting to the public to see that the folks they have elected to carry out the business of making decisions on our behalf have so much animosity in public. They should be working behind the scenes to foster some goodwill and collegiality.
Seems to me that is what Cotham was trying to make happen. Folks should cooperate and at least give the impression that they are interested in working as a team, despite differences, in order to represent the interests of the folks who elected them.
I actually moved FROM there, and saw it firsthand. What you see on youtube is a small representation. It is nothing like most city council meetings, you've obviously never seen some of their antics.
I haven't studied them but I've seen them..
I've also seen Philly's and a few other cities... they do this as well from time to time.
I saw the clips from the news and I know (first hand) how things can be taken out of context for a media story. I watched the meeting online. It was everything the media said plus some. I understand that sometimes a board will disagree and have conflicts, but the manner in which some of the commissioners were speaking to each other and the interim manager was rude and disrespectful.
As far as the name calling, I believe that a few of them (Dunlap, Leake, and maybe someone else?) were making outrageous statements. Why? Maybe for the justification of their behavior or just to get attention, I not sure. I just know it proves that we are all human and we make mistakes....and it was sad to watch.
Sometimes you have to blame the constituents in those districts who keep voting the same people back in office who are often divisive rather getting anything done! It just seems we as a whole want divisive politics instead of sensible government!
The districts have been gerrymandered by the parties. The only way things will really shake up is if serious primary challenges emerge.
This did happen in Bill James' district last year where he squeaked to a win over Ed Driggs. Bill seems to have mellowed a little and hasn't been making the bombastic remarks he is known for. Maybe he realizes his district is changing and the voters are watching him.
Leake and Dunlap need real primaries, even if they win anyway, just to spook/shame them into behaving better.
Dumont Clarke has simply been on the board too long, and shows no capacity for ingeniuty. I cringe at agreeing with Leake, but he should stop hanging around. Step aside. Let someone else represent District 4. Oh heck, he needs a primary too.
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