Mayor of Auburn Ron Anders, Jr. unleashed a blistering tirade during the July 18th, 2023 City of Auburn Council meeting in which he threw down the gauntlet regarding residents who freely exercise their First Amendment rights during the citizen comments section. Anders laid down the law for would be speakers, insisting on rigid speech codes intended to micromanage how they express their thoughts and feelings lest he or his colleagues be made to feel less than comfortable with the reality of operating government in a minimally transparent manner. Dictating his rules for residents, Anders struck a tone of simmering enmity as he issued a litany of stern warnings and admonished his constituents who happen to possess the temerity to stand before the council.
Below you can read Anders' transcribed remarks in their entirety as well as watch the livestream (relevant portion begins at 19:59).
"I would like to read a statement before we move forward with citizen's communications, please. In support of and in respect of open and fair and informed decision making process, the city council recognizes that civil and respectful and courteous discourse and behavior are conducive to the democratic and harmonious airing of concerns and decision making. However, uncivil discourse and/or discourteous and inappropriate behavior have a negative impact on the character and productivity of the decision making process. In an effort to preserve the intent of open government and maintain a positive environment for citizen input and council decision making, the council has adopted a set of citizen's open forum procedures which set forth the rules of decorum and civility which govern this part of our council meetings. These are available for every council meeting right over here as you enter."
"Specifically, paragraph three of the open forum procedures states in part that all citizens should use a professional and respectful and civil tone when addressing the council and should expect the same in return. This policy does not consider the content or the viewpoint of the speaker but is critical to prevent disruption, preserve reasonable decorum and facilitate an orderly meeting. Likewise, the first part of paragraph four of the open forum procedures states citizen's open forum is an opportunity for citizens to present comments to council on non-agenda items and is not a forum for debate. As such, citizens should address the city council as a body and not address an individual council member or city staff member."
"For many years, this council has interpreted the first part of paragraph four to mean that the open forum portion of council meetings should not be used to personally attack or air grievances or discuss in any manner individual council members or individual city employees. As such, speakers during the citizen's open forum should refrain from discussing individual council members or individual city employees by name or in a manner where those individuals can readily be identified. Again, this policy does not consider the content or the viewpoint of the speaker but is critical to prevent disruption, preserve reasonable decorum and facilitate an orderly meeting."
"It is not easy for me, as the mayor and the chair of these city council meetings to administer these rules of decorum in the moment. In fact, sometimes it is very, very difficult. But I assure you going forward, I stand ready and willing to preserve civility and decorum in these meetings and to prevent disruption and facilitate an orderly meeting."
The good ole boy, OFAs, don't want anybody questioning their motives (or examining their financial statements) as they sell the loveliest village to the high-rolling developers.
So, basically, he asking you to utilize basic concepts of civility you learned in kindergarten. Imagine!