How to speak at a New Orleans City Council meeting
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New Orleans City Council allows two minutes of public comment per person on relevant items. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios
A popular way to give your two cents to New Orleans City Council members is to comment during a council meeting.
Why it matters: The process can be intimidating, so we're laying it out for you.
The big picture: The City Council takes public comment at its meetings. You can talk for a maximum of two minutes, and your thoughts have to be about the specific topic.
- Meeting dates and agendas are posted online.
- Sometimes the council goes through the agenda items out of order, so it's helpful to show up at the beginning of the meeting.
- Dress is very flexible. You'll see shorts and a T-shirt to a full business suit. Wear what you want.
Zoom in: "Don't be nervous," says Councilmember Lesli Harris. "We're just people. … You hear us all fumble and stumble and stutter."
- The most effective speakers at council meetings have an outline of their talking points, usually on their phone, she says.
- "You also have to listen to what other people are saying, so you're not repeating the same points," she adds.
How it works: Go into New Orleans City Hall and pass through security. Turn left and go to the end of the hall, where you'll see the council chambers on the left.
- Once in chambers, go all the way to the wall on your right (if you are looking at the dais) and fill out a yellow comment card with your name and the item you want to talk about.
- Make sure you sign the card.
- You can fill out comment cards for multiple items (very common!).
A staffer collects the cards there and puts you in the queue to talk.
- Sit in the audience while you wait to be called.
- Council members and presenters discuss each item before calling people up for public comment.
- You can also submit comments virtually via the meeting's agenda page. Those comments are sometimes read aloud by a council staffer during meetings.
At the podium, state your name, address and whether you are paid to be there (this is a law made in response to the Entergy "paid actor" scandal).
- You have a countdown clock on the screen for two minutes. Think of it like a monologue. Generally, they won't interrupt you or answer questions you ask.
- Your microphone will be cut off after two minutes, and they'll move to the next person.
And that's it! You just spoke truth to power. Congrats!
