Happy holidays, everyone!

The petition has close to 200 signatures (thank you!) and I am preparing to present it at the town council meeting tonight at 5 pm. It will be in the public comments section at the end of a long meeting, so I hope people will still come out in support, to speak or just to cheer it on (respectfully, of course).

When the petition was first launched, all town council  members were notified by change.org, and I emailed the town clerk requesting that it be put on the agenda. I received no response until this message from Rick Denison (Yucca Valley Town Council - District 5) today:

I hope you’ve had time this holiday weekend to reflect as I did with family and friends on the positive influence they’ve had on us.

Your request on this Thanksgiving weekend for a reply, made me feel there is a great importance to you and those you are representing for a response.

Here is a response to your questions:

1) Understand the ways you are already engaging on this issue

Answer: I spoke clearly and directly to those in attendance at the meeting when protesters spoke on the item.

2) Receive additional facts or context not in the petition

Answer: I proposed to continue the item of concern and have met with staff multiple times as we move forward.

3) Understand how the community can get involved

Answer: I’m thankful for the community involvement and stated I’m always available to continue the conversation. I also made my personal contact information available during the meeting. I’ve not heard back from anyone that was in attendance in person or virtual, but remain available.

I hope this helpful for your request.

Respectfully,
Rick Denison

This response does not address the petition or anything substantive. As for his points:

1) The only speaking "clearly and directly to those in attendance at the meeting when protesters spoke on the item" was to tell the "protesters" to be respectful after they were called evil in the invocation.

2) Proposing "to continue the item of concern and have met with staff multiple times as we move forward" is not public discussion or action. Closed door discussions may actually have been illegal under the 1953 Brown Act. Action would have been to put it on the agenda as requested.

3) Denison was contacted as detailed above, with no response until today, the day of the meeting.

Thank you for support of this important issue. Whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs, I am sure we all want to see our Town Councils comply with the Constitution, which is the basis for this Democracy.

Respectfully,

Janice Taitel

jtaitelmd@yahoo.com