In an "Election Matters" article in the Capital Times Feb. 6 by John Nichols, it was stated that "it now appears that the council will override the commission at a meeting scheduled for Feb. 24" when discussing a hike in the bus fare.

Not only is this potentially incorrect, the statement is irresponsible because it discourages people from showing up to the meeting (6:30 p.m., Room 201 City-County Bldg.) and engaging in the democratically important function of testifying before their elected officials.

Why should people bother to testify if it is already a "done deal"? It is not, and the responsible thing is to say that it is not. Why such a cavalier dismissal of the Transit and Parking Commission? After all, they are the experts and have special legal authority to boot.

Some alders know little about Metro because they have depended on the Transit and Parking Commission to advise them. However, the mayor has now insisted that alders use their valuable time listening to people who may have testified before the Transit and Parking Commission's hours-long public hearing in November, and for those people to in turn use their valuable time testifying again. Testimony at public hearings can be up to 5 minutes. That is 12 people per hour. Figure out how many people need to testify for a hearing to last until midnight and beyond.

Susan De Vos, Madison
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