OPINION — Shame on those who planned (Friday) morning’s U.S. House Natural Resource Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Lands hearing at the Dixie Center. (It) was an example of government – on all levels – gone wrong. What a pity for those college students standing next to me who wanted to learn firsthand about federal and state hearings.
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It was an exclusionary “public hearing” that was practically non-hearable by too many of the 500 plus citizens who tried to attend.
First, the meeting was held in a room with a stated maximum occupancy of less than 200. All except a select few were allowed in early, while the rest of us citizens stood waiting outside the closed doors for about 45 minutes.
At the last minute, when the doors were opened, it quickly became evident that lawmakers had absolutely no intention of letting all the public attend because almost 50 percent of the seats were already filled, so as many of us as possible jammed into the room’s sides, as newly elected Mayor Jon Pike smiled smugly from the stand. A smile says a thousand words, mayor.
Those who couldn’t squeeze into the room stood outside but, since most were seniors, soon left because they couldn’t stand much longer. I have Parkinson’s, stood waiting the 45 minutes outside the room, squeezed into the room and stood another 28 minutes until I thought my legs would lock and I’d fall. Then, I reluctantly left.
“Exclusionary, especially for the disabled,” I mumbled to myself.
Second, we all knew ahead of time that none of us would be able to speak, but we were hoping to at least hear what the lawmakers might say. It’s not too often that we get state and federal elected officials to hold any type of hearings “open to the public” here in St. George.
Unfortunately, the microphone system’s volume was so soft that those of us not even at the very back of the room could not clearly hear what was being said, nor was the stage high enough for us to see the speakers. The specific issues any of us wanted to hear about doesn’t really matter because few of us had the opportunity to hear much of anything.
Submitted by Candace Mesa
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And the workers at Dixie center quickly put together 600 chairs in another room and broadcasted from the other room onto a big screen as an overflow. At lunchtime the workers at Dixie continued to set up this room with the microphones and stage. When people came back from lunch it was completely set up and the hearing was moved to the bigger room.
I agree, it was a mess for a while and too many people stuffed in a small space..they must not have expected people to show up. Or they just didn’t care…..
You left out the part about the white man stealing land from the American Natives
Thanks for doing it for me
Me no want’em squaw get teepee in knot !
Oh by the way just an update. people are still performing abortions
That’s their chose. One day they will see the light. Bless their hearts
was their a mormon opening prayer for the event?
Amen to that !
i’m not sure any group exists that is more anti-conservation and pro-development than mormon republican “conservatives”
I went to attend the ‘hearing’ and arrived about 9:45 am and was surprised to see the lobby area outside the entrada meeting room jammed with people. There were suits, ranchers, yellow hats among the large crowd. When the doors opened at 10am (what’s with that?) it didn’t take long to see that a large percentage (including myself) weren’t about to get inside the room. Being held at the Dixie Center surely there would be room for all who wanted to be there. Instead, I assume the committee got exactly what they wanted. After all you couldn’t speak unless you were invited and I’m sure they thought only a few fools would even bother to take the time to see the performance.
Next time you smell something really foul, take a look around, there may well be a politician (or two) nearby.
Perhaps the most disgusting thing about the event, particularly the morning official congressional hearing, was that Chris Stewart and Jason Chaffetz, the two most offensive and over-the-top individuals on the congressional dais, are not even on the House Natural Resources subcommittee that was orchestrating the event. People should watch the hearings on Southern Utah Live when posted to understand exactly how rude and despicable these two were. I’m not sure how they could have played up to their political base in the audience without, well, I won’t go there. I actually got the feeling that Rep. Bishop was embarrassed by them, and that’s saying a lot!!