tvboots The Compton City Council has voted, 3-1, to censor the public-access television broadcasts of its meetings, editing out public comments.  Councilman Dr. Willie O. Jones was the lone dissenter. Councilwoman Yvonne Arceneaux was absent.

The  Sept. 7 agenda item was identified as a “minute motion” on the agenda, and there was no staff report or supporting documentation in the agenda packet explaining the need for the action.

Listed on the agenda as “Action: A request that the public comment section be excluded from Channel 36 coverage,” there was no discussion on how public comments will be cut from the live telecast or during replays throughout the week.

The local government-access station could simply go silent or overdub the sound with music during the live telecast and subsequent replays. That portion of the meeting could also simply be blacked out or edited out altogether.

Jones was the only official to even question the item.

“Public comment and public dissent is very important,” Jones said. “The Council has established rules of decorum, and we have also limited public speech” by ceasing to allow speakers to address the Council on agenda items as they are considered, a new rule that popped up last year.

“I’m having some difficulty understanding why we need this item,” he continued. “I don’t think there’s a compelling need.”

Councilwoman Barbara Calhoun, who supported the item, pointed out that speakers would still be able to address the Council, meaning the city would still be fulfilling its legal obligation.

The roll call for the vote instantly elicited anger from several audience members, who jumped from their seats and heckled Calhoun for supporting a policy that they said dances around the law to effectively curtail their rights.

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