This article isn’t exactly scholarly – more of an anecdote which gives a glimpse of how Marlin views the public. After the October 19th Special Urbana City Council meeting, there was a brief recess before the actual Committee of the Whole meeting, and Mayor Marlin forgot to mute herself on Zoom.
During public input at the same meeting, John Kraft had spoken in opposition to the newly established public speaking rules at Urbana meetings. Kraft argued that having the presiding officer of a meeting attempt to determine if a speaker was accurate in accusing someone of being a “liar” was an untenable posture.
Marlin adjourned the special meeting, but after a bit of silence, you can hear who must be Marlin’s husband say “that was quick”. Then Marlin says something indiscernible, and Marlin’s husband asks,
“Well, how come all these people coming in, in groups, need to talk at our meetings?”
Marlin loudly belts back,
“Because it’s Zoom!”
Then Marlin’s husband:
“Well, he’s got a point about the word ‘liar’.”
You can listen to the exchange here (turn your volume up in the latter half of the video):
Here is the City’s posting of the full version of the Zoom recording, set to start at 9:31 when the exchange takes place:
Extra credit to anyone who can discern what Marlin is saying after the husband says, “that was quick”.