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Another update on the City Council postponement announced earlier this evening … the meeting has now been rescheduled immediately for tomorrow, January 13th at 5:00pm. It sounds like the entire purpose of this special meeting is to consider nominations for the two vacant City Council seats.
Anyone planning on attending? Or tuning in from home?
I have found this website to be very intriguing and useful!!!! I think you should get the name out there more….it is a great tool for people interested in the city. I just happened to hear about it from a friend. As someone who submitted my proposal and resume for the vacancies, I will definitely be in attendance tomorrow. I am not one of the chosen 16 and after reading the dispatch article, I am glad to see that I was not the only one a little confused by the process. It appears that Council has some form of misunderstanding and lack of communication amongst themselves. I look forward to seeing how they move ahead tomorrow evening. I am sure they will work it out. I commend them for opening up the process as much as it has been this time around.
Below is a press release from Priscilla Tyson’s office earlier this morning. The email was titled, “Council Appointment Process Challenged”
____________________
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
January 13, 2009
Contact:
James C. Ragland 614-645-8580
Carl Williams 614-645-2932
COUNCIL APPOINTMENT PROCESS CHALLENGED
(COLUMBUS) – Columbus City Councilmembers Charleta B. Tavares and Priscilla R. Tyson will host a press conference to discuss the appointment process being used to fill the two current vacancies on City Council. The press conference will be held on:
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Time: 10AM
Location:
Columbus Urban League
788 Mount Vernon Ave
Columbus, OH 43203
-30-
I foresee a whole lot of talking, a whole lot of innuendo, that in reality means “my pick isn’t being confirmed…it’s not fair!”
This ‘objection’ really should have been logged much earlier in the process. This is, it seems a suspicious time to bring up objections.
Wow. Very short notice on a last minute press conference.
I really don’t know how this could make any sort of difference at this point. If they truly had a problem with the process they should have addressed it before Boyce and O’Shaughnessy even left office.
Otherwise, I agree with Core. This late in the game it appears as a move of desperation. Not of concern about the system. Anyone think they’ll continue to look into revising the system after the nominations are over with? Or is this a one-day-only concern of theirs?
I really hope it’s televised, but if not, here’s my pre-summary:
blah blah blah AFRICAN AMERICAN blah blah WOMAN blah blah EQUAL REPRESENTATION blah blah blah.
Look at the census estimates and see if you think anyone is not being represented equally.
From The Dispatch:
READ MORE
Gotta love that Tyson was appointed virtually this exact same way…but now she has a problem with it.
Is Tavares upset that her aide didn’t make it???
Nevermind, aide made the list. Hmm, how did I miss that?
I for one am delighted that the train has not left the station. I think if you look below the surface, anyone willing, you will see this is more about an internal struggle between Mentel vs Tyson/Tavares. We were possibly looking at a 3-2 vote on the next members…. I think it is great that there is finally the start of a debate on Council….what was the last hot issue or any issue that did not carry with a unanimous or near unanimous vote.
It’s time to bring dissention and democracy back to City hall AND the mayor’s office, isn’t he suppossed to leave soon? Or did the Obama folks realize he is just a stuffed shirt?
I think Tyson and Tavares are the best members of council. I have yet to figure out what Ginther is doing and know that Mentel is on because of family political connections and seems concerned with the status quo and more cops on the street (yawn).
I think Tavares is the worst myself, and the last hot issue that didn’t carry unanimous was a pretty big one…the streetcar.
Tavares in the most socially conscious, progressive member of council. she frequently attends peace and justice demonstrations…..I thought the street car non-vote was close to unamimous in the lack of support it had…..except for Mary Ellen?
I completely disagree, and I think Tavares is throwing a tantrum because James Ragland isn’t being considered a real candidate by anyone other than her (and him).
This seems more like in-fighting and a power-struggle between members than anything else. Seeing that one party dominates the conversation at City Hall the only action to take is to take on each other for power – which is what appears to be happening here. Mentel obviously have reasons to appoint certain candidates, as do Tavares/Tyson and those reasons are clashing.
It also has to do with being Mayor. If Coleman ever decides to leave there were 3 Council members that most political insiders knew wanted to post – Mentel, Tavares, and Boyce. With Boyce out of the picture being appointed State Treasurer, the only two left are Mentel and Tavares. Now, Tavares has found a way to try and get at Mentel.
Bottom line, it seems disingenuous to call for a special election now, when both Tyson and Tavares were appointed themselves. Again, it just tells me that they weren’t getting the picks they wanted, nothing more.
Breaking News: “Councilwoman Tavares Unhappy with Process in Nominating Coldplay’s Viva la Vida as Columbus Underground’s Best Song of 2008″
;)
Hahaha! Wish she would just post what she voted for already :)