A Pueblo citizens group submitted more than 2,000 signatures last week to the city clerk to reinstate the televised public comment session yanked from City Council meetings last year.
The public forum was officially nixed in September 2007 to avoid slandering individuals on camera.
“It was getting out of control,” said City Council member Mike Occhiato.
Community members now voice their opinions during unaired work-session meetings held by the City Council on off weeks.
The Pueblo Citizens for Open Government, the group that gathered the signatures for the “Pueblo Free Speech Initiative,” argue the public should be allowed to voice opinions during meetings where many decisions are made.
Petition signatures were validated Friday by the city clerk. Now the council can either adhere to the group’s request or put it on the November ballot to let the voters decide.
