Marty Bender, the new Council president, chosen in a pre-arranged meeting well before Tuesday night, has set forth a lofty goal for Council this year. To get home before Wheel of Fortune comes on the TV. According to print reports, Mr. Bender wants to eliminate “extraneous discussion” to keep meetings shorter and keep Council members from wandering off “the reservation” and into areas that could embarrass his boss, the Mayor. I’m sure Mr. Bender used the word “extraneous”. Let me offer another word: “bullsh*t”. It’s all about control of the Council.

Another indication is that Mr. Bender would like to limit, if not eliminate, public comment at Council meetings in order to save time. This is easy to do. Prospective time-waters, er speakers would fill out a form a week in advance, forced to provide a utility bill, tax bill or driver’s license to show they live within the City, and place a 2 minute limit on speakers. Simple, effective, and if I might offer an opinion, illegal and a PR nightmare. But, Marty gets home in time to see Pat and Vanna on the TV, and any pesky public input is quashed so that Council may provide the needed “rubber stamp” for the Mayor.