Peekskill Residents Livid About No Clapping Rule At City Council Meetings

Critics Say They Feel Like They're Being Treated Like Kindergarteners

September 27, 2011 10:49 PM

(credit: Clipart.com)

Reporting Al Jones

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — Want to get yourself thrown out of a Peekskill City Council meeting? Start clapping.

After a series of boisterous meetings, Mayor Mary Foster is trying to bring decorum back to the chamber by banning clapping.

“We’ve had to end meetings because the disruptions just became too unruly,” Foster said.

However, critics of the measure spoke with 1010 WINS’ Al Jones and said they felt like they were being treated like kindergarteners.

1010 WINS’ Al Jones Reports From Peekskill

“If that was the only incident, it would be very different. But we’ve been receiving that kind of treatment consistently and this is just one little piece of that puzzle,” Jim Adler said.

Adler said the mayor and council are trying to silence anyone who doesn’t agree and he’s not happy about it.

“The bullying and the lack of decorum when she and her leadership in Peekskill treat people with such disrespect,” he said, adding he would continue to attend the bi-monthly meetings and clap.

Tracy Breneman admitted that the meetings have become a bit loud, but doesn’t agree with the rule.

“They institutionalized this no clapping among other things, which is absolutely absurd,” she said.

Mayor Foster argued that the rule is just another attempt to get through meetings with less interruption, but critics in Peekskill were reading the Declaration of Independence in protest.

“You think that a no clapping rule is really going to make these issues go away?” asked community activist Darrel Davis.

The City Council voted unanimously to ban clapping on Sept. 12. In January, the council also eliminated a public comment session at the beginning of meetings.

What do you think about the no clapping rule? Share your thoughts in the comments section…

Peekskill Residents Livid About No Clapping Rule At City Council Meetings

Hank Warren

This is all about limiting Free Speech. After all, censorship is everywhere. The gov’t (and their big business cronies) censor free speech, shut down dissent and ban the book “America Deceived II”. Free speech for all.
Last link (before Google Books bans it also]:
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000190526

Stephen

Hank, you’re a retard. That book has been out over a year, I’m sure that “Google” would have blocked it by now.

The citizens of Peekskill can just vote the council out at the next eelction, or sue them and seek to delay whatever they are doing that ticks them off. There’s no cause for disrupting meetings.

cole

There is plentiful cause for disrupting meetings as the council drifts further from the consent of the people. Democracy can be a messy and beautiful thing, all at the same time.

And with the ad hominem attacks, Stephen. tsk tsk tsk. Hard to take you seriously when you act like a child.

Stephen

What are you my mom?

People should follow proper law and procedure if they are ticked off, not makes asses of themselves.

And serously, tsk? Why don’t you tsk at Hank for trying to stir up some fear response by claiming Google is going to ban some year old book.

I’m enjoying my trolling, thank you very much
Mikey

“Ad Hominem” attacks against Hank Warren are completely justified. He trolls every comment board with the same message over and over and over and over again.

Something tells me he has a vested (ie monetary) interest in gettting more pub for the book he always bitches about.

C. Cargo

No clapping? THEN SNAP YOUR FINGERS!
Cincinnatus

Do they at least get a Sieg Heil! from the crowd to the benevolent overlords on city council?
7cedars

Maybe folks need to silence the City Council and vote ‘em out of office…just a thought.

Joe P. Fritzbocker

Wow! Have they never heard of The First Amendment? If some puke can burn the Flag under that protection, surely a person can express themselves by clapping! Find some ACLU terd to file a lawsuit on behalf of the citizens.
pappy1

Amen that! Fight back against such tyranny everytime it rears it’s ugly head!

Joev

Just one more example of the Liberals at work.

Say, hows that hopey changey stuff woring out for all you pathetiuc liberals?
dgbee

Just wait til they pass the no voting rule!

gvmnt45

Have you seen the headlines for the North Carolina Gov? She wants to suspend elections for congress. http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/perdue_suggests_suspending_congressional_elections_for_two_years_was_she_serious Don’t let the joke part of the headline fool you fool you. She was serious.

Claudia Colella

LOL! ” they felt like they were being treated like kindergarteners…..” Well maybe they should stop behaving like adults, for a change?
Rick O’Shea

At I thought it said no clap at town meetings.

Ayloyusis

so you ARE welcome, after all!

Daniel Morgan

Typical anal retentive government bureaucrat. They don’t try to reason with other people, they love use the force of the government to smash them down. Sorry, doesn’t work.

Keep in mind that under Joe Stalin was dictator of Russia, clapping was mandatory during his speeches for up to five minutes.

Governments love to control
George

Town meetings are not day time talk shows, you should not clap and shout after someone speaks…

dave

Really? It’s a form of protest and free speech!!! Is laughing banned? Is coughing banned? Is the constitution banned? Sounds like it to me!
cole

You should do whatever moves you, within civilized reason. Boisterous town hall meetings are a hallmark of a functioning democracy. If business is interrupted, then so be it. A good council finds consensus and facilitates compromise among citizen stakeholders. A good council wouldn’t have this problem, nor would they respond in the manner this terrible and short-shelf-life council has.

Gordon Campbell

Flush these tu rds.
Gordon Campbell

Flush these turds.
Terry Clifton

This is why we have elections. Throw the bums out!! Start a recall election, and get rid of the rats!!!
Frank

I think it is time ya’ll replace your city council.
Joe Golfendude

How is that CHANGE working for you now?
Tormtar

Everyone should stomp their feet instead. Then, when they ban that – armpit farts. Keep changing it everytime until the entire council quits.

Dee

Yes!
Be adults acting like babies until you get your own way!

It worked for OBAMA and his racist supporters.

Karen Gee

Bzzzzt wrong try again. Covered under Free Speech. If you get thrown out, Sue Sue Sue.
OLD JIM

Every time they clap the lights go on or off
Kim

Maybe the entire town should refuse to pay their property taxes. That should make city officials listen pretty quickly.
Henry Thoreau

They should suspend elections next. It’s only right in a communist society.
Joel Fregia

You know who else outlaws clapping? The Taliban.
NO PROGRESSIVES ALLOWED

isn’t that considered freedom of speech.
Thomas Payne

Just another symptom of the Fascist atmosphere promoted by the current regime in D.C. The next thing they will seek is to “suspend” elections. It is only a matter of time before America says “enough”.

Jarhead68

North Carolina governor….http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/27/nc-governor-recommends-suspending-democracy-to-focus-on-jobs/

It has already begun. Democrats don’t like elections because they can lose.

corey

Article footnote: “The City Council voted unanimously to ban clapping on Sept. 12. In January, the council also eliminated a public comment session at the beginning of meetings.” Are you serious? What’s the point of the CITY COUNCIL then? How many excuses can the oligarchy make to silence discontent with their policies?
Usefulidiots

More importantly the January vote to eliminate public comment sessions at the beginning of the meetings.

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Peekskill Residents Livid About No Clapping Rule At City Council Meetings

Critics Say They Feel Like They're Being Treated Like Kindergarteners

September 27, 2011 10:49 PM

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