Editorial
With limited space this week for editorializing much of anything, I wanted to weigh in on the Rotan City Council’s progression toward improved animal control policies, and given last week’s unexpected turnout of concerned citizens, I am not the only one who has an opinion on the matter.
No matter what town a person may live in, large or small, rural or urban, when the governing body of elected officials decides to pass new laws that will affect the way people live their lives, citizens tend to get riled up about it. It is a very American trait, and some could argue a cornerstone of our democratic system... For the people, by the people, and all that.
Yet, despite historical dustups from the tea party in Boston to the Richmond Bread Riot to Chicago, Watts, Attica, Los Angeles, and Seattle, to the steps of the Nation's Capital in November, politicians always seem surprised that angry people show up when they believe their government is overstepping its authority.
That is not to suggest the Great Rotan Livestock Riot of 2023 is imminent, and I don’t recommend angry Rotanians grab their torches and storm city hall. I do see the engagement from the public at the last Rotan City Council meeting as an opportunity for city officials and its public to open discussions that have not happened since I have been covering those events.
In fact, I would bet one of the last times the council had a public turnout like it did last week was 28 years ago when the council last updated its animal control policy. While I commend the council for taking steps to manage a health and human services problem that has grown out of control, it is not one the public created on its own, as weak policy enforcement has also contributed to the issue.
Years of avoiding cooperation, communication, and accountability created the problem, it will take a conscious and probably considerable effort at working together for finding a solution.
The public has already asked for better communication, and if council members allow for more public input, it will no doubt bog down an already slow-moving machine but is more likely to result in a 30-year policy instead of a city hall full of burning chickens.