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City Councilman Scott Bahr legally but inappropriately used his time at a Council meeting Monday night to share his opposition to the reproductive rights proposal on the November ballot. The position he is taking is antithetical to the people he represents and not listening to those who have a differing perspective, either based on their religious or philosophical reasoning is wrong. It is not the position shared by this typewriter nor with the majority of residents he represents in Livonia.
But he has a right to share his opinion. Just not at a meeting of the Livonia City Council. It is his 1st Amendment right to speak out but unethical to use the taxpayer-funded meeting to share his views on what is arguably a partisan-ballot-driven issue.
Council President Jim Jolly is under criticism for allowing his speech at a Council Meeting to go on without gaveling him down. The criticism of Jolly is not right as the law is on his side as moderator of the council meeting.
The criticism should be directed not at Jolly but rather at Bahr who I believe crossed the line in using this forum. The best way to express our criticism is to pass Proposal three on reproductive rights which is on the ballot in November. Livonia should turn out in large numbers in support of Proposal Three and send a message to Councilman Bahr that he represents all of Livonia and should understand that when speaking up at a Council meeting.
Use your infrequently used Facebook page, raise money and send out a mailer at your own expense, step down from the podium and go to the audience and use your two minutes as a Livonia resident to express your view but do not share a partisan position from a position in which you are using tax dollars to urge the defeat of a ballot proposal.
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