That said, showing up and making comments at local meetings can really matter. The number of people who actually participate in meetings like this is low. Showing up with a reasonable argument (probably not in a Darth Vader outfit) can have an outsized impact.
Why not? it worked didn't it? Media outlets all over the country picked up the story.
Here, the goal was media attention.
If you want the council to actually engage with your comment - because it’s reasonable and not insane - then wearing an outfit probably will not help. Though I’m all for more Lord Bucketheads in politics.
only by capturing more attention (much more) can you get on their radar
and even then, you'd be lucky to get anything more than lip service
In most cases, what happens is they give a lot of weight to input from those who agree with the predestined outcome, and none to those who differ.
In these city meetings, all the decisions have been made behind closed door already (often with substantial greasing of the wheels), the open hearing are just for show.