City commissioners should be ashamed for online prank | OPINION

Guest Commentary: Who's Protecting Our Vote?

A two-hour "prank" during a meeting last week seems to prove the City Commissioners don't take seriously their function in making our elections safe and like shooting fish in a barrel. A former commissioner candidate calls them to account

Jun. 25, 2020

[Ed. notation: This commodity is edited from a series of tweets by @jendevor.]

When I ran for city commissioner in 2019, I made a delivery to myself and to voters to hold our electoral process and our officials accountable. And then I experience it's important to bring attention to an issue in the function. I'g upset.

On June 17th, the City Commissioners hosted their regularly scheduled virtual meeting, and without explanation went into a recess where they played Tom Jones' "What's New Pussycat" on echo with 1 "It's Non Unusual" slipped in—for ii hours.

Y'all tin can watch here.

This is a copycat prank from comedian John Mulaney. Here he retells the story of his original prank:

Several Philadelphia voters really cared plenty to take time out of their days to attend the virtual coming together. But the city commissioners held them on the line for 2 hours playing this prank, only to render with no caption. This is wrong. This is disrespectful and this is an abuse of power.

News outlets have non covered this story officially (though shoutout to @Elaijuh for tweeting almost it). Why doesn't the news care that 3 elected officials, who make upwards of $130,000 each per yr, take disrespected their constituents and face no consequences or sign of regret?

This is 5 months before an ballot, and though information technology'southward a dumb prank I consider it an act of voter suppression. There were people with real questions about the ballot, about how to become involved, and what they can do to back up the election. To exist treated in this manner is a disgrace.

On Monday, Commissioner Lisa Deeley held a concluding-infinitesimal meeting. (The Zoom coming together format made it unclear if Commissioners Al Schmidt or Omar Sabir were in attendance.) Deputy Commissioner Nick Custodio said the musical interlude was to allow staff to complete the counting of the votes—in the center of the meeting—and apologized to those who didn't bask it.

Deeley took public comments, many of which were complaints about the prank, and questions about what the office would do to better answer to voter concerns. She did not reply to whatever of them. State Rep. Chris Raab joined and commented on how disappointed he was at the behavior of the part. He said he is concerned that November "will be a fucking shit testify" (bodily quote).

Hear him here starting at about 12:55:

I gamble looking like a sore loser speaking out confronting the part I ran for. Just, to me, the risk is worth it because this part and our elections need to exist respected and held accountable.

We demand people who love to govern in our government, not those who volition interfere with information technology. I'm not sure what volition come up of this incident, though I think the person/people who conducted and immune the prank should resign to get out an opportunity for someone who respects the job and constituents to step in before November.

I would encourage anyone who cares near the November ballot to nourish a hereafter meeting—except the meetings have at present been canceled until the fall. (Yes, actually.)

Meanwhile, y'all can still reach out to the Metropolis Commissioners here to ask them: What is the part doing to rebuild voters' trust and ensure a stiff and secure turnout?

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Jen Devor ran for Urban center Commissioner in 2019. This article originated as a serial of Tweets.

bestanceirs.blogspot.com

Source: https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/city-commissioners-online-prank/

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