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Commissioner requests update to remote public-comment rules to curb anonymous abuse
Summary
Commissioner Dorsey asked staff to prepare revised board rules for remote public comment to align with Board of Supervisors practices and to reduce anonymous, abusive remote remarks; he requested the item be ready for possible action at the next meeting.
Commissioner Dorsey formally requested that staff prepare an update to the Transportation Authority's rules governing remote public comment to align with associated boards such as the Board of Supervisors.
Dorsey argued that while the right to petition government is fundamental, the board should not "platform anonymous commentary and juvenile behavior" that he said frequently aims to delegitimize democratic work. He asked staff to prepare a motion for possible action at the next meeting and suggested the board rely on written comments that would be published and reviewed by the board.
Context: the meeting record included at least one remote caller who used xenophobic language toward Chair Mirna Melgar earlier in the session. Dorsey framed his request as a response to that pattern and as an effort to align rules across related city and regional bodies.
Next steps: staff were asked to prepare the proposed rule update for the board's consideration at the next meeting.
