Last week’s City Council Meeting

Why the Opposition by the Radical Left?



Last week’s City Council meeting was quite a demonstration by the vocal political Left that claims to be fighting for democracy and transparency, and against misinformation.

It was always the same handful of leftists that objected to every move the City Council proposed regarding Charter amendments for the November ballot as well as personal attacks against our new Council members.  It did not end there when one individual verbally assaulted a member of the County Clerk’s office in an apparent effort to deflect from City management and Council business.

I will mention a few items below of the loud, but minority Left actions and in my opinion their hypocrisy:

● They claim to believe in Democracy, but are against the voters making the decision by ballot whether to support or reject the proposed Charter Amendments.

● They claim to believe in Democracy, but want the City controlled and managed only by a NON-ELECTED bureaucrat known as the City Manager.

● They claim to believe in Democracy, but are against “inexperienced” newly elected officials.  Apparently, they believe that only entrenched, long-time bureaucrats as well as those who have been in elected office for years know better how to manage and lead our City.  Is this why they are against the proposed amendment to have real term limits?  Are they asking for the ultimate removal of elections or that “new blood” in the future should not be allowed to run for office let alone be elected by the people?

● They claim to believe in Democracy, but do not accept the April election results.  A case of “election deniers” - many in this group also oppose the School Board election results.  The three new Council members including the Mayor were elected by the voters, but this council should adhere to their demands even though they represent the loud minority whose candidates were NOT elected by the voters.

● They claim to believe in Democracy, yet are opposed to moving the Spring elections to November even though the record clearly documents that a vast majority of registered voters actually vote in November compared to the dismal voter turnout during Spring elections.   The voters that are disenfranchised are often the minorities under the current status quo, which violates Colorado law known as Senate Bill 25-001.  In fact, there is a lawsuit against the city of Colorado Springs because the existing status quo “causes a disparity of turnouts between Black, Hispanic, and White voters.”

The folks who claim to support minorities are actually disenfranchising them with their opposition to moving the City Council election to November.

● They claim to support Democracy, but are opposed as previously mentioned allowing the voters to decide on the proposed amendments.  Remember, they wanted a NON-ELECTED “Citizens Committee” to research the proposed amendments and make the recommendations on behalf of the voters.  Totally ignoring the fact the City Council members were elected to represent the people which includes taking responsibility and the initiative on a number of issues and policies rather than delegate that legal authority to a non-elected class.

● They falsely accuse David White of “misinformation” regarding his documented reports that the City Clerk has failed to report 80+ ballots to the County Clerk & Recorder’s office in violation of a number of statutes.  False accusation of misinformation is disinformation!

● They deflect from the alleged wrong doing by the City Clerk (real question is who ordered the Clerk to violate election laws) by falsely accusing David White.  One individual’s attempt to deflect from the City Clerk’s action verbally attacked a staff member of the County’s Office.  Why focus on the real issue or parties when you can deflect by falsely accusing others?

● Many of their colleagues support the “defund the police” movement, yet they support the status quo of only a non-elected official having sole control and authority over the Police Chief.

● They believe if the voters grant ultimate hiring and firing authority to the City Council (City Manager would still have daily administrative responsibilities), it would become partisan, but our “Democracy” would be protected because the “non-elected” City Manager would NEVER be partisan.

● They believe the City Council should be non-partisan even though previous Councils have been very partisan and/or delegated too much of their responsibilities to the City Manager.  Yes, the Charter states the City Council should be non-partisan, but the reality is many decisions by any elected body are usually partisan.   

● Partisan politics by previous City Council members include:

1. Granting favorable tax treatment to select few business owners

2. Proposing a sales tax on food that unfortunately was passed by the voters.  This new tax is very partisan since it negatively affects the working poor as well as many in the middle class.

3. Failing to provide a safe pedestrian overpass for the “Tortilla Flats” school children.  If the previous Councils were considered “conservative or the Far Right”, the Left would have been screaming racism since the above mentioned school children are predominantly “Hispanic”.

We have a new City Council because they were elected by the voters based on their campaign promises and agenda to improve the City.   

Why the opposition by the local radical Left community?  Is it due to the fact they would lose more control and influence if the majority of voters follow-through on real change?  First by electing a new City Council, and secondly by voting in November on the proposed Charter Amendments.  The good news is that the proposed amendments will be on the ballot for the VOTERS to decide yes or no.

Election results do have consequences, and fortunately we are not a democracy.  We are a Constitutional Republic.  Period!