Mary’s Not Gone, Just Cut In 1/2

At OpenCDA.com today, community nag Mary Souza takes aim at the city’s long-standing practice of collecting a small percentage of public works projects for public art. (Mebbe this is the column that wasn’t published on Sunday’s editorial page. Mary’s now been reduced to bi-weekly columns, as a result of the CDA Press cutbacks.) As is her habit to rave against all things involving Sandi Bloem and her administration, Souza slams council members for taking self-imposed breaks during public hearings. (Hey, Edinger needs a smoke from time to time, after all.) Opines Mary, “The council’s lax manner of walking out while a citizen is speaking at the podium is shameful.  Mayor Bloem should put a stop to this behavior at once.” Seems Mary had more bladder control when she was on the P&Z commission than some of the council regulars. And, therefore, speaks from authority in picking this nit. You can read about it here .

Question: Is Mary right? Should council members ask Mayor Bloem for a break when they have to smoke or use the restroom? Or simply get up as indiscreetly as possible and do so?