Letter to editor: Speaker slips offer only one-way communication

I read with interest and some amusement the recent letter to the editor from Doug Kafka, president, San Diego Country Estates Association, regarding communication and elected officials.

I believe we all understand the meaning of “speaker slips,” whereby citizens can speak before a board for a limited time. Mr. Kafka went into some detail on the process — much of it covered by law and/or regulations.

Normally when one communicates with another person on a matter, it is a two-way dialogue. Mr. Kafka failed to mention that the process he described is a one-way activity — permits no response or reply from the elected official!

Recently I appeared as a ratepayer from Ramona at a LAFCO meeting at the San Diego County headquarters. I filled out a speaker’s slip and spoke on a subject that was scheduled on the agenda. (LAFCO is a state-mandated group of top officials in each county. Among their duties is monitoring the sphere of influence of water districts.) Although the subject matter on the agenda dealt with the Ramona Municipal Water District and recycled water, not one elected official from the Ramona water district or the San Diego Country Estates was in attendance!

My subject matter was of considerable interest to the LAFCO commissioners — and was openly discussed between me and the commissioners.

During the following days since, several elected officials (from both Ramona Municipal Water District and San Diego Country Estates) launched both a letter writing and verbal campaign attacking me — pointing out I was just a ratepayer and DID NOT SPEAK for the locally elected officials!

I never claimed that I did — only that I was one of the many people paying the bill.

Ernest Garrett

Sun City, Ariz.

SDCEA homeowner and ratepayer