Subject:
734 days and counting . . . will Mark Kirk say "yes" or "no" to announcing town meetings on District 10's website? (See http://illinoispoliticsblog.blogspot.com)
To:
Rep. Mark Kirk
October 22, 2009
"Will Congressman Mark Kirk place public notices of our town meetings on District 10's tax-paid website, a resource Congressionally mandated for district use?"
I know it's hard to believe, Mr. Kirk (and any constituents who may be reading this). I've taken a few minutes, every business day, to call both your Northbrook and D.C. offices, always courteous, always with the same bread-and-butter question.
That's every business day since January 2, 2008, which now extends to 734 calendar days.
Do you remember the starting point of this request? On October 20, 2007 (Winnetka town meeting), you shook my hand and said "Good idea" to my proposal: "Will you put District 10's town meeting notices on District 10's tax-paid website?" Your aide, Richard Goldberg, said "Excellent idea."
Are you managing this well? During 2008 and so far in 2009, Aaron Winters, Deputy Communications Director, has repeatedly stated he is not permitted to reveal if he has ever asked you this question. (Nevertheless, despite what may constitute a restraining order against my inquiry, and as the benchmark of 1,000 phone calls is approached, regretfully this question is being raised to an emergency status.)
Mr. Kirk, it's 734 days and counting. We need public notices on District 10's home page, at the top, ideally two weeks before each town hall meeting. Not targeted notices in e-newsletters to controlled lists of District 10 citizens. And not on "Mark Kirk's Blog" which in your nine-year tenure you've done a single time (a 2/5/09 two-day notice for a 2/7/09 meeting, since transferred to the new July 2009 website's "News Center Blog" as though it were originally a public notice). A new policy should be clearly stated on District 10's website at kirk.house.gov.
Will you give a publicly verifiable "yes" or "no"? While I continue to call for a reply, and for constituents who are following this story, here's one of four letters I'll copy below (a new one each day), sent to the Wilmette Life, exploring other aspects of your management style. (See also " Mark Kirk's honesty may be slipping due to four letters to editor" at my blog, http://illinoispoliticsblog.blogspot.com...
KEY TO DEMOCRACY IS MISSING
(Letter to the editor, edited and printed in the Wilmette Life, July 17, 2008, slightly re-edited)
One key to democracy -- and thanks to the internet, one of the most important keys -- continues to dangle firmly out of reach in Congressman Mark Kirk's 10th District. That's the notion of giving public notice of District 10's town meetings on District 10's tax-paid website (kirk.house.gov), a resource Congressionally mandated for district use.
Instead, the site has become a velvet glove that fits, web-tight, Mr. Kirk's concept of "public relations." Mr. Kirk's photo and name proliferate alongside Kirk-friendly headlines on veterans, Medicare, gas prices, family planning, the emerald ash borer, even a "Kid's Page."
But a probe into the website's slickness reveals a chilling lapse. Under "town," "town meeting," "town hall meeting," "village," or "village meeting," the search engine routinely reports no public notices for upcoming town meetings in any town, on any issue, for any date, throughout District 10.
Mr. Kirk's batting average, 0 for 100, is no accident. Instead, town meetings are publicized with low-profile announcements in the local paper. For example, the only apparent public notice for Palatine's February 21, 2008 town meeting was an 88-word announcement in that day's Daily Herald, bottom of page 3.
Mr. Kirk also delivers automated calls, postcards, and e-newsletters to controlled lists of District 10 citizens. These do not conform to public notices of town meetings. Nor does Mr. Kirk divulge voter lists of citizens who are notified or the method by which names are selected. Call Aaron Winters, Deputy Communications Director, to receive a well-rehearsed "no comment."
In a democracy increasingly reliant on the internet, how can we express ourselves to Congressman Mark Kirk if District 10's website is kept clear of public meeting notices?
Mr. Kirk alone holds that key.
Wilmette , IL
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