POUGHKEEPSIE – In what has become a common occurrence at council meetings in the city, members of the audience became unruly. Tuesday night’s meeting set a new standard with the council adjourning the meeting after 45 minutes of public comment – without discussing or voting on any city business on the meeting agenda.
The overwhelming majority of speakers during public comment were present to speak on a resolution sponsored by Councilmembers Deichler, Menist, Patterson, Thompson, and Grant that calls for President Biden to facilitate a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all hostages taken during the conflict, and other measures that are far beyond the jurisdiction or duties of the city’s common council. Speakers have attended the past few council meetings urging for the passing of the non-binding “wishlist” resolution, which has taken away from the council’s ability to address any substantive issues that directly affect the city.
Many attendees called for the passing of the bill while others expressed displeasure in the amount of time spent on a bill that an opponent called an “ill-worded and useless resolution.” The same speaker pleaded with the council to “Focus on our community – focus on the jobs you were elected to do.”
The cease-fire resolution was joined on the meeting agenda by two bond resolutions for sewer repairs in the city and setting a public hearing for a senior citizen tax exemption for eligible residents. Not one of those items was discussed by the council. Instead, after 45 minutes of public comment, limited to three minutes per speaker, Council Chairman Da’Ron Wilson ended the public comment portion. With the people in the gallery beginning to raise their voices and shout at each other, Wilson asked for the return of civility. His plea was ignored and he asked for a motion to adjourn. The motion was made, seconded, and approved. With a bang of the gavel, the councilmembers rose and proceeded to leave the room.
Council Vice-Chairman Nathan Shook explained the decision to end the meeting without conducting city business. “Unfortunately we had to adjourn the meeting at the conclusion of the public comment period,” he told Mid-Hudson News on Wednesday. “When we reached the end of the 45-minute public participation the crowd that had come to support the ceasefire resolution became very unruly, including shouting and showing no signs of heeding the Chair’s direction to come to order,” he explained, adding “In the interest of the safety of everyone there, including the police officers that were present, we decided to adjourn.”
Video compilation of the lack of audience decorum and civility toward speakers:
