Park City deserves better than Jeremy Rubell.
Park City’s residents deserve to be treated with respect when giving public input or volunteering on city-led committees. I was appalled at Council Member Rubell’s disdain for the work and recommendations put forth by a committee organized to direct the city’s nonprofit grants.
Together with Council Member Parigian, the committee’s hard work, research and deliberations were summarily dismissed with flimsy reasoning, if any was provided at all.
Although it was tone and tenor of the “dialogue” that shocked me the most, it was also the complete lack of best practices when it comes to grant making. Cherry picking favorites, ignoring priorities and perimeters, and making decisions from the sidelines are textbook worst practices, all actions exhibited by Council Member Rubell.
The behavior was so abhorrent that other members of the council apologized to the committee.
As widely reported, soon after this meeting, Rubell, Parigian, and Council Member Ciraco voted for a re-vote on ranked-choice voting, a decision that had been made with 18 months of discussion and research. Despite heavy opposition, they took this highly unusual step with no sound reason, no urgency and no emergency.
It is true that public service is difficult, but shouldn’t politicians like Rubell be accountable to us, the public? We deserve representatives that treat our input with respect and thoughtfulness. Rubell and the two other council members who pushed for a re-vote are too comfortable bending process to their whims. Erratic process is dangerous — whether in D.C. or PC.
Thankfully, we have an election this year where we, the voters, can demand politicians that put aside their personal interests to do what’s best for our community. We deserve better than Council Member Rubell.
Katie Wright
Park City