Following a public outcry, the Merced City Council has abandoned a proposal that would have imposed strict new rules on public comments during city council meetings.
The plan, which was officially shelved Monday, would have made it a misdemeanor to interrupt, speak past the allotted time, or create a number of other disruptions during city council meetings. Residents and civil rights groups pounced on the idea, calling it the criminalization of speech.
That was never the intention, city officials say. Although Merced is abandoning the plan, its representatives seemed to stick up for it verbally Monday.
"I try to create an environment where even when there are difficult topics to be discussed, everyone is allotted time," said Mayor Mike Murphy. "Everyone's been asked to be respectful to whoever's at the podium or whoever's time it is to speak."
"The intention was never, I can assure you, to prevent people from speaking," said Councilman Matt Serratto.
City Attorney Jolie Houston similarly defended the city’s position, saying such decorum rules are not uncommon in California. She cited guidelines in the cities of Stockton and Sacramento, as well as the Santa Clara County ordinance Merced had modeled its proposal after.
Nevertheless, they agree the proposal sent the wrong message.
Read more at the Modesto Bee.