The Sunnyvale Sun

Letters & Opinions

Letters

Board members
can best inform
the city council

The article "Board members told when they can speak" in the Feb. 6 edition of the Sun contains one statement which, no doubt inadvertently, gives a very misleading impression and should be corrected. I refer to the sentence: "The free speech debate arose after several commissioners...objected to new information being presented at council meetings."

I have communicated with all of the city's board and commission members on this subject and none has ever expressed any such objection. Rather, our concern is that when new issues are raised at a council hearing, the members of the relevant board or commission are the only people who are not allowed to speak in this public forum. That is truly ironic, because these members have studied the item under consideration more carefully than anyone else and are uniquely qualified to help the council make the most informed decision.

Kevin Jackson

Chair, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission