At the Feb. 26 hearing on the proposed Provinsalia subdivision the democratic process ran head on into the mayor and councilors of the city of Clearlake, and democracy lost.

The specific events that occurred during this bizarre meeting were thoroughly reported in Lake County News (http://lakeconews.com/content/view/7522/764/) but the issue – which now goes well beyond mere environmental havoc and fiscal improbability – can be summarized very quickly.

By unreasonably restricting the public's right to comment on a duly noticed agenda item, Mayor Chuck Leonard, with the implicit concurrence of Council members Judy Thein and Curt Giambruno, prevented effective public participation in public affairs.

Besides being in contravention of the Brown Act and therefore subject to reversal by the courts, this behavior deprived the city of an important opportunity to benefit from the wisdom of its citizens, displayed a contempt for the electorate that cannot be tolerated in a democracy, and transgressed the fundamental principles of our system of government.

The public whose trust was profaned must, and shall, seek redress. Several courses of action are apparent, including a petition to recall the errant council members, a complaint to the Grand Jury and attorney general seeking invalidation of council votes tainted by Brown Act violations, and an appeal to the courts to reverse the certification of the palpably inadequate Provinsalia Environmental Impact Report.

It is my understanding that the machinery has started to roll on all three.

Victoria Brandon lives in Lower Lake.

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