I made my debut before the County Board of Supervisors to comment

Tweet

On Tuesday I had a really busy day. In the morning I attended an online Webinar for a program to automate social networking. I signed up for a 15-day free trial to learn what I can so I can quit before they start charging $99 a month. I can't afford it. I'm also looking into more programs to automate tweets that are free or have a much lower cost. I'm spending almost all my spare time this week trying to work on my Twitter account. It takes more time than I have. Right after the Webinar I drove to San Luis Obispo to meet my husband for lunch. He had just finished the morning shift at the Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting in support of those of us against the implementation of Agenda 21 in our county. They are trying to push as much through as they can before our newly elected supervisor who opposes Agenda 21 is seated, changing the balance of the board. My husband was scheduled to meet someone from the Republican Party (who, of course, wanted money but didn't get it ) in Paso Robles at 4, so he had to go home after lunch. I went on to the meeting and got there after the noon recess was over. The issue was to hear a report on what effect limiting building permits in rural areas would have on the economy of the county. They want to see if more people would move into the city if they limit building in the county and offer people incentives to build in the city instead. Right now they just charge a huge fee for building permits. At the end of the report, it was evident that the people who did the study could not really access the economic impact except to say it might effect rural land values and have a negative impact on those builders who build homes in rural areas (and their suppliers who also might have to lay off people who also would not have the same amount of money to spend on goods and services they had when employed.) I knew I had to speak, even though a professional political activist (who helped train me and others a week ago) was slated to comment. My original plan was to just get up and agree with what he said, but when I asked if I could do that, he said there was no guarantee he would speak before I did. So I jotted a few notes. We were allowed three minutes. I was scared to death, since I'd never done this before. I was going to watch what the people before me did in addressing the board, etc, as my model. I wasn't afraid of the audience, since there were probably not 15 people left there by the time of the public comment period, except for the BOS and county employees and presenters. Would you believe it? I was the first one called and had to wing it. Good thing I had a couple of notes. I said my piece and sat down to watch the others. I don't think anyone spoke in favor of implementing the plan, since it was obvious the economic impact would remove millions of dollars of property taxes and that people living in or wanting to build in rural areas did not want to move to the cities just because the government wanted them to. No action had to be taken on the study at this meeting, but our mentor said if the report is accepted the BOS will then refer back to it when they want to implement these Agenda 21 suggested plans. My friends said I did well. Many of them didn't speak, and that surprised me, since they were there. I guess they were trying to encourage me. I really hate having to attend these meetings, but if we don't go and speak out when we have opportunity, who will? Have you ever attended or spoken at local government meetings? If so, how did it go? If not, why not?