I'm glad that M.R. Rossi posted the announcement about the City Council meeting on Tuesday. I think that everyone should head on down there and exercise a little participatory democracy. In particular, I'd encourage everyone to ask the following question, especially to those City Council members who support the ordinance to prevent people from occupying the 6' of sidewalk closest to a building: who, in particular, is claiming harm under the present system? Let this person enumerate the wrongs that have been committed, and explain how this change in city laws will improve the situation downtown. Let's have an open and transparent conversation about the options before the Council.

If, however, no one steps forward to speak for this proposal, then let us hear no more about it -- we must not descend into a situation where unknown parties make backroom deals about what should be a public process to make public laws. If there is a grieved party, then by all means, let that person speak. If no one champions this cause, then there can be no action taken. For the Council to do otherwise would demonstrate a true lack of transparency.