The city is circling the wagons to defend the Super Secret Clubhouse meetings:
City officials defended the decision Wednesday, saying it was legal under the state’s open-meetings laws.
“Since the board is advisory, the state’s open-meeting statute is not applicable,” city spokeswoman Mary Cashiola said in a statement.
Oh I don’t think so, Miss Fancy CityPants:
FUNCTION & AUTHORITY: The Animal Shelter Advisory Board shall:
a.) Assist the Animal Shelter staff in the investigation and prosecution, if necessary, of all complaints of cruelty or mistreatment of animals or fowl, and if necessary, take charge of and make proper disposition of the animals or fowl involved in such complaints, when so requested by the Director of Public Service;
From the same article:
Memphis Animal Shelter employees filed a grievance over Web cameras installed at the shelter, asking that they be removed from the current facility and that none be installed in the new shelter that opens this fall.
[…]
The shelter employees want the cameras removed because they’re worried about their safety, said George Little, the city’s chief administrative officer.
Oh piffle.
Aside from the inevitable tiny crackpot minority, pet lovers have been civil and non-threatening in expressing their concerns over the abuse and killing at MAS. You know whose safety I am genuinely worried for though? The pets at MAS. More so if the city removes the webcams and the abuse and killing continues behind closed doors.
Please contact everyone on the mailing list and let them know that their attempts to pull a cloak over the wrongdoings at MAS will generate additional interest in the issues they are attempting to hide. Our government has an obligation to remain open and transparent and to accept criticism and praise where warranted.
As always, keep your comments brief and respectful.
