An 18-year-old Upper Lake High School student reluctantly walked toward the lectern feet dragging and cheeks blazing pink. She had put in a card for public comment at the start of the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday but was told she would have to wait until the item she wanted to speak on, medical marijuana, opened for public comment. More than an hour later, Chairman Anthony Farrington called the student up to the lectern to be the first to comment on medical marijuana dispensaries. The standing-room-only crowd cheered her forward.
But then she said she supported somewhat strict regulation on dispensaries and cultivation. People in the crowd scoffed, muttered complaints to each other and stopped cheering for the nervous teenager. And like a 3-year-old does when he faces opposition, someone from the back of the room stuck out his tongue, blew and made quite a loud fart noise with his mouth. Thankfully, I wasn”t standing directly in front of this person, so I didn”t feel his spit all over the back of my head.
To be clear, the person was not a 3-year-old. I have never heard a toddler object with words or noises to regulating medical marijuana dispensaries or cultivation.
Though that was the only mouth fart noise I heard during the meeting, the bad behavior continued for six hours of discussion on the issue.
While the board discussed the draft ordinances with county staff they had set with the task to come up with some sort of regulation, people failed to keep their mouths shut.
Farrington told the crowd if they didn”t quit shouting they wouldn”t get the chance to speak at all. Yet some hollering from the back and front of the room continued.
After being interrupted while trying to get answers on the ordinance, Supervisor Rob Brown told shouters if they have something to say, to say it to his face. The man said he would during public comment.
Not only did booing disrupt the meeting but so did clapping. Farrington held out his hand and asked the crowd to stop cheering him and said they would have their opportunity at the microphone. And after every public comment asking for little or no regulation, the crowd clapped.
Perhaps at least some of the manners my parents taught me sunk in ? to be respectful during public forums. But while learning to be a journalist, I was taught to stay quiet during meetings and other proceedings. My job is to observe and ask questions later, not to give comment.
To disrespect public officials and employees who are truly trying to improve the lives of the people they serve is abusive and childish.
Like yawning loudly during court proceedings, shouting, talking and sometimes clapping during public meetings is inappropriate and rude.
The outbursts also likely do nothing to change the minds of the public officials except to take audience members less seriously, essentially fighting against the aim.
Let us all act like adults with our tongues in our mouths and effect more change with well-reasoned arguments during allotted public comment. Toddler-like temper tantrums usually end by going home without the desired result.
Katy Sweeny is a staff reporter for the Record-Bee. She can be reached at kdsweeny@gmail.com or 263-5635, ext. 37.
