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Comment by closeparen | Hacker News Reader

City governments are really accessible. There are regular public hearings where anyone is entitled to monologue at decision-makers for several minutes at a time, sometimes with hilarious results. I mean, could you imagine the President being required to sit through 3-minute-per-person public comments?

Elections are swayed by tiny numbers of votes. Power rests with small groups of retired homeowners who bother to show up. And decisions made there have a greater impact on your life than most elements of federal policy.

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>> Power rests with small groups of retired homeowners who bother to show up. And decisions made there have a greater impact on your life than most elements of federal policy.

so much this, young americans are systemically disenfranchised by how local governments are run

> so much this, young americans are systemically disenfranchised by how local governments are run

If by "routinely disenfranchised" you mean "regularly fail to show up to vote" then I would agree with you. Perhaps with the exception of university students registered at a parental home, I don't see how one could claim young Americans are materially disenfranchised in regards to local elections.

Council meetings are held when normal people need to be at work.

In my neck of the woods they are held in the evenings, well after a typical 9-5 working day.

Same, I agree with the above poster re: failing to show up. I was involved for a number of years in an attempt to get a aquatic center built in my city to support both club and high school swim teams. By far the most difficult thing about it was getting kids (who would be the largest beneficiaries) to show support in city council meetings.

Ironically, we are almost there, but my swimmer is about to graduate and will probably never swim in the pool.

How about regularly Hosting public meetings during hours when young people are working?

Given that this is the second reply of its class, sounds like some of y'all have sketchier local councils than I do.

Perhaps this disenfranchisement is more of a regional issue.

I don't think it's necessarily sketchy. Any time you pick will be better for some people than others, and it's possible that earlier is more convenient for the groups who demonstrably want to attend their meetings. For example, if the people who come to your meetings are primarily stay-at-home spouses and retirees, you'd probably be inclined to pick a time when they're most comfortable.

> There are regular public hearings where anyone is entitled to monologue at decision-makers for several minutes at a time, sometimes with hilarious results.

Are there restrictions on non US citizens?

You line up at a microphone. No one is checking papers.

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