A police sergeant displayed his mediation skills at a regional planning meeting by temporarily replacing the facilitator after 20 tea party activists disrupted the meeting.
Jan 9 was the second of the Bay Area's Winter 2012 Public Workshops held in Santa Rosa, county seat of Sonoma County, California. The workshops are part of the One Bay Area planning process for the 9-county Bay Area to develop a 'sustainable community strategy' as called for by state law SB 375 in order to reduce greenhouse gases that result from driving.
"A vocal group of about 20 tea party activists interrupted the speakers and audience with charges that the government can't be trusted," writes Julie Johnson.
"We're here to try to keep people from violating the law that says you can't disrupt a public meeting," Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Terry Anderson said, after police were called on an unfounded charge that a chair had been thrown and struck an attendee.
"Anderson helped facilitate the meeting for a while and took people into the hall when they refused to let others speak.
Many comments show people don't understand who holds power over land use decisions, said John Goodwin, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission."
Thanks to MTC-ABAG Library
FULL STORY: Tea party activists interrupt regional planning meeting in Santa Rosa
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