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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 9, 2005 Unanimous vote a good vote for Phoenix residents At last, we can applaud the decision of the Phoenix City Council to rescind its "media contact memo" during Monday's meeting - a complete and resounding victory for all city employees, residents and even councilors themselves. Anytime a significantly new council is elected, mistakes are to be expected. City government is a complex thing, with a steep learning curve for new councilors. For a new mayor who lacks any government experience, the responsibility of protocol and legality is especially challenging. If the mistakes are part of the training, they can be understood. However, if the mistakes are part of an attempt to control, distort or simply get around these established rules and responsibilities, they are a subject of serious concern. That the mayor wanted to stifle public comment of city employees with the threat of punishment is enough to raise concern about the agenda of some on the council. But, because this so-called decision of the council was not done in an open and public meeting with a recorded vote by each of the councilors raised far more serious concern. The concept of quorum and the importance of public officials conducting their business in public is an essential issue of accountability and democracy. Both are absolutely worth fighting for. Sending a message to the city leadership that residents expect open dialogue and honest reporting of the council's activities is an equally important cause. Thankfully, this unanimous vote of the council shows that it can admit a mistake and will respect the rules that govern its activities. It also allowed the respective councilors of Phoenix to show a diversity of opinion and independent thinking among its members. We suspect that each is more comfortable being their own person, and not simply adhering to the pressures of the majority. This is a first step of leadership, but it's a vital one. Distrust and division have torn the people of Phoenix into different camps. It is not a united city, nor does it have a united council that speaks for it. Admitting that isn't a bad thing. Rather it's a first step of honesty that may actually help heal the rift and allow for respectful disagreement in finding a plan for the city's future that a greater majority of the city's residents and employees can embrace. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Online Pharmacy Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations Hammocks Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams