Editorial: Tune in to keep an eye on Loveland City Council – Loveland Reporter-Herald

Looking for some entertaining summer television viewing?

The last hour of last Tuesdays Loveland City Council meeting was riveting, although also at times, as Councilor John Fogle carefully put it, a fertilizer show.

The council, like the country, is grappling with big issues ethics, racism (ageism and sexism also were mentioned), First Amendment rights, bullying on social media and the general frustration that is boiling over in this time of disease, unemployment, the ramped-up politics of a presidential election year and the fears they are bringing out. And those issues boiled over on public display Tuesday.

The meeting, for those who didnt catch it live, can be viewed online at https://bit.ly/3fFFv6G. Start in the eighth section.

Among the issues discussed were concern over whether Councilor Steve Olson violated the councils ethical standards by making accusations against Councilor Andrea Samson and Mayor Jacki Marsh on social media, concern about the Black Lives Matter movement and a question of whether the City Council should commit to not defund police but to provide them with more money for training and equipment to deal with threats and with financial liability protection for officers.

Samson was criticized by fellow councilors in February for commenting on Facebook they had a head buried in the sand perspective about social media. She recalled that Olson told her then he would never trust her again. She said she learned from that incident but was surprised to see Olson do the very thing he had criticized her for when he posted on social media that she and Marsh do not support police and that they support a Marxist organization and violence because they have attended local rallies supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Olson flatly refused to apologize to Samson for making those accusations, although at the end of the night he said he would sit down and talk with her if she wanted. I think that would be nice; I appreciate that, she responded.

Samson said earlier in the meeting that she believes the councils role as leaders is to communicate and to have conversations with community members, especially in this time of seemingly increased division.

If the two councilors do have that meeting and truly listen to each other, they will be setting a good example.

In Loveland, which is as Samson pointed out 93% white, people who are not may have a very different experience than those who are. Asking them about their experiences is the first step toward understanding where inequality exists, which could help lead to finding ways to reduce it.

Police also face increasing tensions on the job, even in Loveland where they are under scrutiny after the arrest of a black man on July 13 in the Target parking lot. That case is under review.

The Loveland City Council should bring the matter of police support back in a study session and have a full public review of Olsons requests, finding out from police what they think they need and hearing comment from the public as well.

Watching the council video leads to some reactions:

Will council members be able to find common ground to better serve the community?

Will Samson and Olson listen to each others views?

Will council members besides Marsh and Samson reach out to minority members of the community to learn more about their problems?

Will the Loveland City Council take up the issue of whether to provide Loveland police more funding, training and protection from personal liability?

Tune in again on Tuesday nights.

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Editorial: Tune in to keep an eye on Loveland City Council - Loveland Reporter-Herald

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