Emeryville Vies With Oakland to be Last in Democracy
Both Cities are the Last Holdouts for Public Meetings
Opinion/News Analysis
As the Covid pandemic settles down into epidemic status, cities across the Bay Area are opening their city council meetings back up for full public in-person participation. It’s a flowering of democracy after the long dark night. However, two cities continue to be closed; Emeryville and Oakland. They're the last holdouts.
For months now, the State of California has allowed cities their discretion for opening the people’s city halls to the people and Emeryville’s neighbors (save Oakland) have done that.
The following neighboring cities have completely opened up for full democracy:
- Berkeley
- Hayward
- Piedmont
- Orinda
- Walnut Creek
- El Cerrito
The following cities are now in the process of opening back up:
- Lafayette
- Alameda
The following cities are closed indefinitely:
- Oakland
- Emeryville
During the pandemic, cities used Zoom to try to facilitate the people being able to still participate in their government but online access was shown to be a pale and anemic simulacrum of democracy. Whole classes of people, including the elderly and the poor were shut out. Anytime entire classes of people are (effectively) barred, it cannot be described as democratic. And that holds true for Emeryville today. Emeryville has not had democracy since March 19th 2020.
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| Hayward City Hall Enlightened Poor people and even elderly people can come here and freely speak out about government policies. |
The public is messy, loud and opinionated. They have strong opinions and they don’t mind telling their local government about it. The elderly and the poor too. Sometimes they’re not happy with policies coming out of City Hall. If they could be silenced, the meetings would be so much more comfortable for the city council. Who wants to be yelled at and berated?
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| The public speaking freely can be messy. The establishment authority sometimes doesn't like it so much. |
But the Emeryville city council and the staff are paid to take the public being unhappy with them. It’s supposed to be part of the job. This city council likes to attack public commenters who are critical. When they attack public commenters, they show us they don’t accept the compact with the public that government employees are required to accept. Is this anti-democratic culture at Emeryville City Hall affecting the city council’s decision to keep public meetings closed? Or is it that they simply want to protect us from disease as they say (and Berkeley doesn't)?
We’re keeping tabs on this and it doesn't look good for Emeryville. Right now it’s the City of Oakland and the City of Emeryville neck and neck in last place for democracy. Oakland? Really, Emeryville? Someone should tell Emeryville that Oakland is a low bar.
Is Emeryville going to wait until the State of California finally forces them to open up their meetings for democracy? Only our city council, the same city council that publicly attacks dissenters that have the audacity of speaking out in full throated democratic fashion, knows for sure.
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| Elderly people commonly have a tough time with these computer contraptions. Maybe it's easier to just forget about speaking out at the online city council meeting. Judge Judy beckons and she's on at the same time as the city council meetings. |
"Does that mean our city council thinks neighboring city councils are reckless for opening up? Does the Emeryville city council think the Berkeley city council is negligent and imprudent? Do they think the city council of Hayward is foolhardy and thoughtless? Is the Walnut Creek city council brash and audacious?"
ReplyDeleteI would answer, YES!!!! Covid and Long Covid are dangerous. I personally know of about a dozen personal friends who have had SERIOUS, not 'mild' covid infections in recent weeks, that linger. Several have experienced 'rebound infections' after taking the antiviral paxlovid. Many with symptoms had multiple negative tests, which indicates variants take longer to trigger a positive. We have no way to know who among us has high risk ... age, chronic conditions, immunocompromised. I supposed there could be a hybrid option? Gather at your own risk? But I think it is irresponsible to fault Emeryville and Oakland for making a very responsible choice. I applaud them both! This is NOT the time to relax. There are still so many unknowns, and this pandemic continues to be mishandled from the top down. I went to Barbara Lee's website today and I was so pleased to see her wearing a mask in her website photo. Meanwhile Justin Trudeau and Maxine Waters are getting covid infections for the second time. Maybe they think schmoozing is worth risking acute and/or chronic covid, but I think THAT is a bad example.
Every city I mentioned as 'open' is using a hybrid model, meaning people can appear at the council meetings in person or via Zoom. That's probably the way of the future, for every city eventually.
DeleteI want to share this treat with everyone. This is a great lefty oriented podcast. https://www.deathpanel.net/episodes-1 I highly recommend the podcast on Outdoor Transmission w/ Dr Theresa Chapel.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious, has Emeryville made any ventilation improvements or installed ultraviolet lights? This is important.
ReplyDeleteThat covid 19 is exploited as a convenient to stay outside the job area and still getting their salaries. Its different for hourly folks, if they do
ReplyDeletenot show up they do not get pay. It becomes a moody clerk disease.
The mask is a convenient hide out for those not having an attractive
happy smiling face. The health care industry loves it to add importance
to their occupation and dramatize their risk prediction as war mongers
San Francisco's council meetings are hybrid, with both in-person and video options for the public. Perhaps the Emeryville Council could take a field trip across the Bay to see how San Francisco protects both the council and the public from infection.
ReplyDeleteit sounds like some folks in the health care industry have interest in exaggerating the covid 19 drama which has been an economic lost
ReplyDeletefor all nations with so many contradictory story.
All those victims are anonymous , its private, impossible to check
or double checks likes those " Star Trek " drama. It fills our own
imagination with the fantastic. Then we wonder about the
mental health issue those T,V, addict exhibit. !
This is a first. I completely agree with Brian!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time you've agreed with me? What about the previous story (June 19th) on Rob Arias, who defrauded our BMR affordable housing program? You don't agree that the Tattler should run stories on people who defraud Emeryville's affordable housing program?
DeleteLooking forward to the Tattler's endorsement of Ron DeSantis
DeleteThis story is about democracy and about how it's a good thing and about how we need more of it. Ron DeSantis, on the other hand, has a very dim view of democracy. So how is this idea of yours cogent?
DeleteYour characterization that "online access was shown to be a pale and anemic simulacrum of democracy" is inaccurate. While there are certainly valid concerns that the access of some individuals and groups can be limited by the requirement for online participation, it has broadened the access for many. People can now join meetings from their homes without giving up an entire evening, while putting dinner on the table, and without having to arrange childcare. Public participation has generally blossomed during the pandemic as a result.
ReplyDeleteHybrid meetings can provide the best of both worlds, but the technology is complicated to both set up and operate. It may require technology upgrades in physical meeting facilities. I certainly wouldn't want to end expanded access for many people by going back to in-person only. I'm sure your patience is appreciated while the City tries to figure out how to conduct hybrid meetings.
Well, that’s pretty dismissive despite your grudging ‘concern’ about the access of some individuals and groups. The actual effects of the digital divide that excludes the elderly, the poor and minority communities is well documented even though you want to minimize it. Studies have shown digital public meetings skew towards the connected: homeowners and white people. One 2022 study called ‘Still Muted: The Limited Participatory Democracy of Zoom Public Meetings’ found the numbers of participants can increase in total but at the expense of whole groups of disconnected people. That’s what we mean when we say it is less democratic.
DeleteNever mind also the well documented condition of Zoom fatigue, public in-person meetings have clear benefits that are not as tangible. Attendees can read officials’ body language and see if they’re actually paying attention. Participants can strike up conversations with others, both those willing to talk — perhaps two activists will meet in the hallway and find a way to join efforts — and those who are often less eager to do so. Additionally, it’s important for public bodies to be meeting in person so journalists can ask them questions. Pre-pandemic, the Tattler often took advantage of that accessibility.
The shift to virtual meetings has increased the power of government leaders to control debate.
Wow, here we are again bashing Oakland.
ReplyDeleteZoom meetings seem pretty great. People can access the meetings from their own homes and it is easier for people with families and actually the elderly. Even elderly people know how to click a link on zoom despite what the author of this article thinks
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint you but the elderly and the poor not being able to connect online is so pervasive and proven that it's even got a sobriquet. It's called 'the digital divide' because those on the other side are cut off from the rest of humanity. In the case of Emeryville, it means the people on the other side of the divide cannot access their government adequately so there's a lack of democracy. This is not a matter of opinion. It's easy to be smug about it but what are you going to do besides gloat in your superior position on the right side of the divide?
Delete