Boulder Reporting Lab: The Boulder City Council informally voted on Dec. 12 to reaffirm its rules for responding to public open comment at council meetings, aiming to keep meetings running smoothly and on time following recent disruptions related to the war in Gaza.
Over the past year, public calls for a ceasefire in Gaza during meetings have prompted some councilmembers to respond with remarks on the war or issues of antisemitism, including addressing antisemitic language. At times, these responses have been lengthy or have sparked shouting from the audience, resulting in recesses and meetings running late. Last week’s meeting ran about an hour over schedule, and councilmembers delayed a vote on another city matter in part due to the late hour.
“The challenge we run into is kind of this sense of open mic night,” Councilmember Matt Benjamin said during the Dec. 12 meeting, referring to his colleagues. “I think the status quo is not working.”
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