Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

DumbshitOnTheRight t1_jeb90ef wrote

My personal feeling is to limit each speaker's "Citizen time" to two minutes or so. If they refuse to stop they can then be ejected, same as anyone else disrupting the proceedings.

62

abhikavi OP t1_jeb9w76 wrote

I'd be fine with that. It sounds like the boards are afraid that'll be the next lawsuit though, because this court case didn't clarify whether time limits etc could be imposed.

10

majoroutage t1_jebbip9 wrote

Banning it still sounds like the worst of all the options, though, in all honesty.

18

UltravioletClearance t1_jebrn21 wrote

Courts have consistently ruled the government can set reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on free speech. Limiting debate time would absolutely comply with that since limitless free speech time would cause municipal governments to grind to a halt.

18

CheruthCutestory t1_jebhq5c wrote

It will surely be a law suit but they are on pretty firm ground of content neutral time, place and manner restrictions then. As long as they enforce the time restrictions equally.

6

AutomationBias t1_jebp3bs wrote

I go to town meeting every year, and as much as we're all annoyed by the cranks who monopolize the microphone, it's not really practical to limit individual speakers to two minutes - especially when there are big ticket items to be discussed.

8

Splime t1_jecbvoa wrote

Funnily enough, here in Littleton everyone gets a 3 minute limit at Town Meeting, apart from the board presenting the article which gets 10 minutes. At least here though, if something has made it to Town Meeting, the important discussions have already happened.

5