LA MESA COUNCIL VOTES AGAINST CELL PHONE BAN FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING MEETINGS

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By Miriam Raftery

April 14, 2014 (La Mesa) - La Mesa’s City Council voted down a proposal by Mayor Art Madrid that would have banned Councilmembers from using their cell phones during public meetings, including closed sessions.  Mayor Madrid argued that since members of the public in the audience are asked to silence their cell phones, council members should, too.

Madrid said it’s a sign of “disrespect” for council members to have a double standard that requires audience members to leave the room if they wish to speak on their phones, while allowing Councilmembers to talk or text as they please.

But Councilmembers won out, keeping the double standard. 

Councilmembers said they do silence the ringer on their phones, but want to continue receiving and sending text messages during meetings.

Councilman Ernie Ewin said he has received alerts from the police department and also likes to receive messages from his wife when she is traveling. He has also received notification of a relative’s death via text on his cell phone during a meeting, he said.

Councilwoman Kristine Alessio said she uses her cell phone to take notes and has texted her teenage daughter home alone during meetings.

Resident Kristin Kjaero said she has received text messages from a councilmember in the past, though that member no longer sits on the council.

La Mesa resident Patrick Dean asked the city attorney if cell phone messages made during meetings would be required to be disclosed as public records.

The attorney said personal messages would be exempt, but if a communication involved city business, it could be disclosable under the Brown Act, California’s open meeting law.


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Comments

Right, skidwell. The reason

Right, skidwell. The reason you don't see a double-standard is because there isn't one. This is nothing more than another attempt by Art to control: 1)Free speech, and, 2) The council. By the way, the council vote was, appropriately, four to one AGAINST Art.

No double standard

I see no double standard. The in-chambers viewing public and those waiting to speak are "asked" to silence their cell phones or/and to take conversations outside. I have been to several meetings over the past 10 years and this is precisely what happens , again and again. I have only heard one cell phone ring from the dais, and that happened to belong to the mayor. He quickly turned it off. Attend any meeting and you will see the public, waiting speakers (including staff), local media often on cell phone/PDA devices sending texts, taking notes, reading their notes, taking pictures, etc. Maybe elected officials could spend less time in rostrum campaigning, factually dubious, or self-aggrandizing jaw flapping as a way to solve the apparent idle time diversions?