Stevenson, Garrett
Subject:FW: 1/31/2023 Ed Tech Meeting: Correspondence for Agenda Item #1 From: Sonja Berndt < >
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2023 5:02 PM
To: Stevenson, Garrett <[email protected]>
Subject: 1/31/2023 Ed Tech Meeting: Correspondence for Agenda Item #1 CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more....
Dear Chairperson Hampton and Members of the Economic Development and Technology Committee:
Thank you for agendizing the issue of allowing remote public comment to resume at City Council meetings and meetings of City commissions and committees. I am pleased that City staff members are recommending that remote public comment be allowed to resume for City Council meetings and for meetings of "those bodies scheduled in City Council chambers." Public engagement is critical. It allows community members to bring their ideas and concerns directly to city leaders and allows other community members to support those ideas and concerns as well.
Many in our City do not have the ability to give public comment in person due to work responsibilities and/or family caregiving duties. Please put yourself in their position. Realistically, can young parents, elderly residents, or workers on a swing shift wait hours to speak in person on critical issues coming before the City Council, its committees and City commissions? Please follow staffs recommendation to begin allowing remote public comments as detailed in the staff report except also include the ED Tech Committee on the recommended list of bodies allowing remote public comment. Thank you.
Sonja K. Bemdt
Pasadena
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