Free Speech?

Free Speech is our right as an American.

The Arlington City Council gives the appearance of not caring about free speech.

June 5, 2012

The first Citizen Participation speaker has the mike shut off during his first minute for just listing facts, because the mayor did not like what he was saying.

December 15, 2009

On December 15, 2009, the Arlington City Council scheduled a public hearing on a zoning case for gas drilling. Many citizens of Arlington registered to speak on the subject. Citizens are required to fill out a card and turn it in to officials in order to speak.

The mayor decided, with the city attorney sitting right next to him, not to follow standard operating procedure and let each citizen speak, usually for three minutes each. Citizens that were properly signed up to speak would not be able to speak, because he would allocate a total time of 20 minutes for "for" speakers, and a total time of 20 minutes for "against" speakers.

He claims he can control how long each speaker can speak, but he has overstepped that boundary by not allowing properly registered citizens to speak. There were properly registered citizens on both sides of the issue that were not given the right to speak at this public hearing.

In Arlington, they hold a public hearing, asking for input, then do NOT allow the citizens to speak.

At the August 18, 2009 Arlington City Council meeting, a citizen fills out cards to speak on three consent agenda items. These actions occurred at the following times from the online replay of the meeting:

11:27 The speaker starts talking.

12:38 The mayor tells the speaker he has about 4 minutes left.

14:22 The mayor tells the speaker his time is up.

There was no destruction, no cursing. The mayor apparently just decided he did not want to allow any more time to the opposing opinion being expressed calmly and rationally. Two minutes and 55 seconds is all the speaker was allowed. Normally, a speaker discussing just one item is given three minutes.

Is Arlington, Texas part of the United States of America?

<online viewings of past council meetings>