Residents oppose proposed public comment restrictions

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – More than a dozen people got up to speak at city council’s first meeting since Councilwoman Marilyn Stout proposed cutting mics and removing residents who continue to speak in a disrespectful or abusive manner.

The majority of participants who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting were vocal opponents to Strout’s suggestion.

“Now you wanna silence us and tell us what we can and cannot say?” one person said. “That’s ridiculous, ludicrous. It’s wrong. You guys work for us. We pay your salaries and you seem to forget about that.”

Strout said she is not trying to restrict residents’ freedom of speech, but just hopes to keep the meetings respectful.