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| 1/27/2009 8:06:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Mayor Thane undecided on address plans
Bill Sheehan
Recorder News Staff
Postponement of last week's anticipated State of the City address by Mayor Ann Thane has left questions about when, and how, the mayor will report on the city's condition and her goals for the coming year.
Thane, who is required only to submit a State of the City report to the Common Council, thought she would videotape an address that, instead of being available just once in a live televised council session, could be played repeatedly and at different times on local cable to reach the widest possible audience.
The text of the speech would also be made available to the media and possibly available through Internet sources.
Thane said Monday that she has not finalized her plans as to the nature of presentation or the timing of the speech, but some officials think that Thane should maintain the tradition of delivering a speech to the council in public session.
"I think that most of the real contact with the constituents is made through that live speech and you'd lose some of that in a taped speech," said 1st Ward Alderman and Deputy Mayor Joseph Isabel, adding that a taping session could allow for editing or 'do-overs' that can polish the final product.
"I don't think it's ever been done that way before. Besides, when you look at somebody while they're talking live you can tell if they're sincere and how they're really feeling," said Isabel.
"I'm kind of surprised she's even thinking about taking that route. The mayor has always been a public person," he said.
Fourth Ward Alderman William Wills agreed that Thane should make her presentation before the council and a live television audience.
"Even though it's not required by the charter, I think she should deliver it ... the next council meeting [Feb. 3] would be great," he said.
Wills said a formal delivery would also give the aldermen an opportunity to react to the speech in a timely manner as well.
"I would prefer it to be live ... it's a better way to communicate, but I don't have anything against the other ways she also wants to do it," said the 5th Ward's Richard Leggiero.
Third Ward Alderwoman Kim Brumley is the only member of the panel polled who was ambivalent about the need for a formal speech.
"To me, it's the quality of the message rather than the platform used to deliver it. I'm more interested in where we've been and where we're going to go so it doesn't matter to me how she gives this message," said Brumley, adding that she would be satisfied with a written copy of the speech "and the chance to ask questions if I had any."
"I've never had anyone come up to me and ask 'Hey, did you see the mayor's speech last night?'" she said.
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Contact Bill Sheehan at billsheehan@recordernews.com.
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