From:
To: Mary Gourley
Subject: Public comment 8/26/25 Council meeting - Approve Jill McLewis leave (No redactions needed) Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 5:12:44 PM
I am aware that according to the code a council member's office becomes vacant if they are absent for 60 consecutive days without permission. Therefore it is understandable but regrettable that the council must debate whether Jill should remain on the council having unfortunately and totally unexpectedly found herself unable to attend a couple of recent meetings due to ill health.
I would note that it is anathema to me that a person’s health status should be discussed so openly in a public forum but there be it.
Should you, her colleagues, her fellow council members choose not to excuse her absences and adhere rigidly to the code then in doing so you will be pouring salt into a very open wound and you would be guilty of causing Jill more stress and distress than is needed right now. Surely that must make you uncomfortable? All of you have sat here in the past debating the plight of the unhoused, the mentally ill, and the addicted. You have spoken up for the Palestinians, Ukrainians, for gay rights and more and in doing so you have shown that you can be compassionate and empathetic.
If you choose not to afford Jill the same level of compassion, empathy and understanding now that she’s facing a life changing crisis then there’s only one word for this - hypocrisy.
Please respect the dedication and effort that Councilmember Mc Lewis has put into her position on the Council thus far and do the right thing.
Thank you
Liz Marks
City of Sebastopol