Broward silences its citizens

At the Broward County Commission meeting of April 20, the agenda included a request for 65 permanent supported housing units for homeless people with mental health issues. The proposal was spearheaded by BOLD Justice, a coalition of 24 congregations and faiths, and was sponsored by Commissioners Dale Holness and Dr. Barbara Sharief.

A total of 29 members of the public signed up to speak on the issue, but commissioners deferred the item and sent it to a workshop without public comment. Those wishing to speak patiently waited nearly four hours. At a previous meeting, many of the same individuals waited eight hours to speak, but the meeting was adjourned without the issue being addressed. Commissioner Holness addressed the delay, saying: “... if we are to defer this while we have these members of the community sitting on the phone all this time ... it would be shameful and disgraceful for us to do that... (it) is like telling the public, ‘We don’t want to hear from you.’ ”

This is exactly how we felt. Homelessness and mental health go handin-hand. They cause great suffering, especially in these times. As a 42-year Broward resident who has always been proud of our commission’s passion for justice and democracy, I trust they will fulfill that commitment and allow this issue to be addressed at a future meeting. Public input is an essential element of democratic governance.

Andrew Deering, Fort Lauderdale