Some photos from last night’s 5th District budget meeting at the Virginia War Memorial:
(Actually, the last one was of a group of people doing sort sort of group exercise activity outside the War Memorial. I don’t think they even knew of the budget meeting.)
I was disappointed in the city budget meeting this evening. I think that most people go to a meeting like this with a problem or an issue that they want to discuss. It was quite frustrating that there were only very broad, pre-established “multiple choice” topics, and the water rates weren’t one of the choices.
I feel like we were participants in a none too-subtle-effort by the Mayor to minimize dissent. We were to quietly write down on cards any “special concerns.” (I think I know where they will be filed!) As one participant aptly pointed out, this was about the most unscientific survey possible, the choices were contrived to reinforce the mayor’s agenda.
It appears that the Mayor’s office is making a concerted effort to minimize discussion on the water rates. The Mayor’s aide actually said that the utility rates were not part of the budget discussion.