This Tuesday evening, the Ponca City Commissioners have a resolution on their agenda to create new rules for the citizens at public meetings. I believe that these are an unwarranted restriction on our first amendment protected rights and our ability to even speak to the city council. I will attach the entire proposed rules below, but notice the prohibitions on anyone bringing signs in a meeting, shirts that have a message, and topics that can be addressed. As many of you know, we have had a brigade member at most meetings for some time now, and we have not witnessed any gross acts of indecorum. A couple of meetings ago, the mayor did threaten the removal of a member of the public that came and held a sign. This appears to be an attempt to make the mayor’s behavior legal in the future. One problem with being in public office is that you will receive public scrutiny. Anyone who is unable to handle that should not run for public office.
The meeting will be Tuesday, May 27th at 5:30pm, upstairs at the City Hall. If you can possibly make it, I would ask that you attend the meeting Tuesday night with a friend and consider bringing a sign. 😉 Also, I will include the email addresses of the commissioners if you would like to contact them in advance. Please share this with anyone that values freedom of speech and transparency in government.
The commissioner’s email addresses are:
mayor@poncacityok.gov
Com2@poncacityok.gov
Com3@poncacityok.gov
Com4@poncacityok.gov
Here is an idea to get you started of what you could say:
Dear Commissioner,
I am concerned about the new proposed rules for public meetings that are on the agenda to be considered at the meeting on Tuesday. I am not aware of major problems at any recent meetings, and these appear to be an undue infringement on the first amendment rights of all Ponca City citizens to let their voices be heard at public meetings. I understand that vulgar language is already prohibited by state law. Why must signs be totally excluded? They are a way for the public to express their opinions without disrupting a meeting or even taking up time during public comment! As the elected representatives of the people of this city, you have a responsibility to listen to what we have to say. You also took an oath to defend the Constitutions, both of this state and our great republic. Free speech is protected and must only be restricted in extremely limited cases. I would ask for you to pull this item from the consent agenda, and vote against these restrictions on the citizen’s freedom of speech!
Thank you for your consideration,
