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Clash at public hearing as commenters debate free-speech limits and support for enhanced 9-1-1
Summary
During a Feb. 3 King County Council public hearing on two consent ordinances, a speaker who identified himself as Alex Zimmerman challenged the hearing's topical limits, prompting admonishment; a subsequent commenter, Mr. Kuzler, defended the enhanced 9-1-1 system and condemned antisemitic remarks.
During the public comment period on Feb. 3, a man who identified himself as Alex Zimmerman used his two minutes to challenge the council's rule limiting comments to agenda items and declared the restriction was inconsistent with the First Amendment. Chair Sarah Perry and staff repeatedly asked him to stay on the two ordinances under consideration and warned that lines would be muted if speakers went past the two-minute limit.
Alex Zimmerman said he wanted to speak about "this agenda 6 and 7" and argued that the topical limitation restricted speech; at one point he told the dais, "this is not freedom of speech... your fascism," prompting staff intervention and the chair's request that he remain on topic.
A subsequent commenter identified in the record as Mr. Kuzler replied in support of the enhanced E-911 system, saying, "the enhanced 9 1 1 protects everyone regardless of faith, and we don't need a Nazi salute," and criticized the prior speaker's language as inappropriate. Chair Perry thanked Kuzler after his remarks.
Another member of the public, Yvette Dinish, used her time to offer housing-solution suggestions not on today's agenda; Chair Perry invited non-agenda speakers to use the council's regular fourth-Tuesday public comment slot for matters not listed on the agenda. After public comment concluded, the council proceeded to approve the two ordinances on consent and adjourned.
