Joy Cooper, the FL mayor who called citizens of her own city opposed to her policies, "Nazis," is quoted in PB Post story on govt. civility

Joy Cooper, the Hallandale Beach mayor and current Florida League of Cities President, who called concerned citizens of her own city opposed to her public policies "Nazis," is quoted in a Monday Palm Beach Post story on civility in Florida municipal government.

As I have written here numerous times, over two years ago, up on the 2nd Floor at Hallandale Beach City Hall, Mayor Cooper, in speaking with then-Comm. William Julian just moments before the continuation of a City Commission meeting referred to me and other HB citizens opposed to her disastrous policies as "Nazis," and seconds later, referred to Comm. Keith London, a frequent opponent on the dais, as "a Hitler."

I bring this to your attention because it's a perfect example of how little the news media in South Florida really knows its elected officials and their behavior, and because there are many people within this city who have also been maliciously maligned by her and other city commissioners and officials at public meetings and forums, as well as had their opportunity to speak at public meetings squelched, or threatened with arrest for recording the proceedings at a public meeting.


Palm Beach Post
Are not!! Am too!! -- Cities aim for civility in civil discourse
By Andrew Abramson
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 7:47 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011
Posted: 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011

WEST PALM BEACH — At Lois Frankel's final city commission meeting in March, the former mayor cut off the microphone while a resident blasted commission candidate Keith James, who was up for election in a runoff the following day.

Frankel and City Attorney Claudia McKenna pointed to the city's civility code, as they often did at heated meetings. It says that "all remarks shall be addressed to the commission as a body and not to any one member or to the audience."

The city commission voted to reaffirm that rule April 18. And it's not alone in trying to re-instill civility in public meetings.

Read the rest of the post:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/are-not-am-too-cities-aim-for-civility-1447015.html