By Noah Dawson
I believe that Amarillo matters, and that’s why I do not believe Amarillo Matters. For those who are unfamiliar, Amarillo Matters is a PAC who supported our current council in the last local election and seems ready to support them again.
According to their website, their principles include the following: Acting “with the highest integrity,” putting “the needs of our community first,” working “to build trust and credibility with our community,” being a “positive force,” being “free from conflicts of interest,” and believing “in the benefits of limited government.”
This list sounds incredible, and I would support most politicians who held the same principles. Unfortunately, the principles of the people the PAC supports are quite different than the principles they claim to support. To demonstrate this, let’s go point by point.
Does our city council have high integrity? Well, the mayor talked about how she was excited that public comment was now going to be an hour long, despite moving it to the middle of the day when many cannot attend, and further ending the meeting each week very quickly, usually before and hour, and sometimes before even 20 minutes had gone by. Does that sound like high integrity? You tell me.
Does our City government put the needs of our community first? Well, they did destroy a homeless camp and oversaw people being arrested, who for peacefully protesting the way the city treats the homeless. Additionally, some people who have spoken during public comment over the last few months have questioned the council’s willingness to buy locally. Does that sound like putting the needs of our community first? You tell me.
Does our city council build trust and credibility with our community? Well, as I wrote in my piece last month titled “Policy Talks and Public Comment,” members of our local government often replace “the truth with [their] distorted and often fictional worldview.” The City Manager has even insisted in an interview that the rule against personal remarks during public comment doesn’t exist. Does that sound like building trust and credibility with our community? You tell me.
Is our city council a positive force? Well, the council has attempted to violate the Texas Open Meetings Act, at one point trying to ban people from filming public meetings. They’ve arrested people for clapping. Under their administration, our animal shelter has been the source of nation-wide controversy not once but twice this year. Does that sound like being a positive force? You tell me.
Are members of our city council free from conflicts of interest? Well, despite alleged connections to a warehouse the city recently purchased, the mayor defiantly voted to approve the item. Does that sound like being free from conflicts of interest? You tell me.
Does our city council believe in limited government? Well, they do regularly spend millions of dollars each week through consent agenda items. They have restricted rights of expression through their clapping ban and the right to record public meetings through a short-lived ban. They have arrested peaceful protestors. They have supported red light cameras. Does that sound like limited government? You tell me.
If you believe in the principles Amarillo Matters claims to stand for, the best place to look for good candidates probably isn’t their list of endorsements.
