Did you know that Anacortes City Council has implemented a new rule for citizens to make public comments at the weekly Council meeting? It’s not just the three-minute timer; it’s the new requirement that you identify your voting ward or neighborhood before you even start your comment.
On the surface, it sounds like simple record-keeping. But in practice, it feels like a subtle way for our elected officials to decide whose opinion actually matters.
The Problem with “District-First” Thinking
When you’re forced to lead with your neighborhood, you’re essentially flagging whether or not you can vote for the person sitting across from you. This creates a dangerous precedent where:
- Constituent “Favoritism”: Councilmembers might only truly “listen” when the speaker is from their own district.
- Soft Filtering: It discourages people who live on one side of town from speaking up about issues affecting the whole city (like the budget or the Comprehensive Plan).
- Intimidation: Not everyone is comfortable announcing their specific neighborhood on a public, recorded livestream.
It’s Not a Conversation, But It Should Be Fair
The city’s own rules state that “Public comment is not a conversation”. We get it—they aren’t required to respond. But if we aren’t even guaranteed an equal ear because we live in the “wrong” ward, then the very foundation of public testimony is at risk.
We elect seven councilmembers to lead the entire city, not just their own corners of it. It’s time we remind them that an Anacortes resident is an Anacortes resident, no matter which ward they call home.
What do you think? Have you felt “filtered” at a recent meeting?
Sal Walker
Anacortes, WA