Jim,
It is often not appropriate or in some cases even legal for Council members to reply directly to emails on CCIN for many of the reasons Mayor Meuller conveyed in his well-written reply below.
Rest assured, though, that we read everything emailed to us.
All the best,
Catherine
Typoed on my iPhone
> On Feb 16, 2019, at 12:56 PM, Mueller, Ray wrote:
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> Thank you for your email and concern. For Brown Act reasons, I believe in most circumstances Councilmembers, if they elect to respond, will respond directly to those who email into the CCIN, rather than copy the entire distribution list. Councilmembers also may elect respond to an email via phone call. For privacy considerations, professional staff may also opt to respond directly to a resident who emails the City to express a concern. Not everyone is aware their initial email to the city is distributed on such a wide email list. I will discuss with the City Manager whether it is possible to also send a receipt of email notification sent directly to the sender, but the public wouldn’t view that, and we wouldn’t want to spam the entire distribution list with it. Additionally sometimes members of the Public send suggestions that may not necessarily ask for a response. Rest assured every email is read, considered, and appreciated.
>
> With kinda regards,
> Ray
> ________________________________________
> From: Jim Lewis
> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2019 12:16:53 PM
> To: _CCIN
> Subject: CCIN REPLIES ARE MISSING
>
> Mr. Mayor and Council Members.
>
> I’ve noticed that few Council Members and staff are responding to citizen letters sent to the CCIN website.
>
> This is rude and cruel. Citizens may feel you don’t care, are being ignored and disregarded. Why offer a place to write? Do you even take time to read them?
>
> Hours may be spent composing a letter, but without the courtesy of a reply you feel like you’re talking to yourself. It appears that the city is apathetic and indifferent.
>
> Is this anyway to run a a government? Palo Alto replies to citizen letters, as do most State Assemblymen, State Senators and others. Why not you?
