Balancing Heart and Process

When communities are threatened, values are attacked, and people are hurt, emotions rightfully run high. In times like this, local leaders must balance two values that can conflict: caring deeply about what is happening in our community and maintaining a tone in public forums that keeps dialogue productive rather than combative. 

As a member of the Plymouth City Council, I’ve felt this tension acutely in recent weeks as immigration concerns have sparked strong feelings and urgent calls to action. I condemn the immoral, violent, and unconstitutional actions of Operation Metro Surge. Period.

And our vigilance must continue, even if we might be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Real people—our families and friends and neighbors—have suffered. Our work must focus on their lives, their safety, and their dignity. I am thankful for the passionate advocates who have shown up, spoken out, and stepped up to support those in need. Urgency and intensity come from the heart, and for that I have nothing but deep respect.  

Council meetings and study sessions are conducted in our community in accordance with a process. That process might feel formal, stilted, or detached to residents who are feeling the urgency and intensity of meeting the present moment. But process and civility are not the same as indifference. Quite the contrary. My colleagues and I care deeply about the safety and direction of our community. While the formality of a council meeting may not always show it, a lot of thought, research, listening and heart goes into every decision. 

My colleagues and I are working alongside so many in our community in ways large and small to help our neighbors: 

• We passed a resolution affirming our values and commitment to immigrant residents.

• We directed financial resources to community organizations.

• We insisted Plymouth join the Cities for Safe and Stable Communities coalition.

• We are listening to community input and opinions to inform hard decisions.   

You deserve to know how we approach this work. Speaking for myself, empathy is a core value that guides me every day. I carry it when thinking about residents, businesses, students and visitors—and how our decisions affect them. I appreciate those on the front lines including advocates, police officers, and community members putting themselves at risk, and most of all with residents who are suffering and afraid. I’m committed to asking hard questions, and doing the steady, often unglamorous work of good government because I care about our community and everyone in it. 

I invite you to reach out, ask questions and share your point of view. I’m always willing to have a conversation and hear from you. This spring I am holding listening sessions each month around the city. The first is on Sunday, February 22, at 1 p.m. at the Parkers Lake Building. I will gladly talk to residents one on one by phone if you don’t feel comfortable attending in person. 

Every voice matters, especially those carrying the weight of these immoral actions. I’m committed to hearing yours.

A shortened version of this post also appeared as a letter to the editor in the Sun Sailor.