Wednesday, May 16, 2007 | Leave it to a high school student to recognize high school behavior when she sees it.
I took my daughter out of school yesterday so she could further her education by watching our government in action, rather than on TV. We attended yesterday’s afternoon session of the City Council meeting.
Imagine my dismay at having her witness Councilman Jim Madaffer and Councilman Ben Hueso snickering and playing around together like school boys during the opposition comments on the Centerpointe Project in Grantville. I hoped she hadn’t noticed, but she leaned over to me and said “Mom, they’re making fun of the speakers.”
Whether they were or not, that’s the impression she took away from her experience. As an adult I am outraged by their lack of respect to the citizens who had taken time away from their jobs or other obligations to come down there to be heard. We don’t act like that toward them. They should have the good sense to not act that way toward us. Councilmen, just because the camera is not on you doesn’t mean you aren’t being seen.
Is that what leadership looks like?