I was surprised to read in the Tuesday’s Gazette that Northampton City Councilor Marissa Elkins has publicly proclaimed how she will vote on the dashcam issue (“The city urgently needs reliable dashcams,” Feb. 15). Her announcement is made far in advance of the actual vote, well before the culmination of the work of the Finance Committee, before more public comment, and even before a proposed forum on surveillance.
This was not Councilor Elkins’s first time signaling that her decision-making process was “closed for business.” In a recent City Council meeting, she said, “I know how I’ll be voting on this issue,” and since it came when she was talking glowingly of surveillance, there’s no mystery about what she meant.
I want to believe that city councilors try to have an open mind as they listen to public comments, acquire new information, and hear the experience of a cross section of the community. I’m not naïve. I know that there may be other councilors whose minds may be made up on one side or the other, but they at least don’t announce their decision while people are still talking about the issue.
I have to wonder, just when was Councilor Elkins’s mind made up? Was it the moment she heard about the new surveillance? Was there ever a moment when she said to herself, “I know that I have strong views on the subject but I’m also going to keep an open mind while I listen to what others say. Maybe I can learn something from others on this issue.” I guess not.
Instead, her announcements are telling residents and concerned people that her own personal experience is all the input she needs. Our opinions, our perspective and experience, our knowledge and insights are not needed, or, seemingly, even considered. Perhaps her op-ed isn’t improper, but it’s a chilling way to shut down dialogue before it’s actually time to shut down dialogue. And a bold move from a new elected at-large city councilor who might want to at least appear that she is interested in engaging with the public in this first big public debate.
I don’t understand why a councilor would take such a strong public stand on a controversial issue well before it is required. Why not stay open Councilor Elkins? Why not listen to us? You will get your vote soon enough.
Cathy McNally
Northampton