Tallahassee, FL, Commission Meeting
27 January 2021
Devon Graham (282 words)

Mayor Dailey, council members, thank you for this opportunity. I should note that today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and on this solemn occasion I hope that we can live in a world that will never have to experience anything like that again.

This is one of those rare invocations where you won’t get in trouble if you don’t close your eyes and bow your head, and I’m actually going to encourage you not to.

Look around the room, and around the Zoom screen, at those that are present today. We’re surrounded by people, both in-person and virtually, who come from very different backgrounds and belief systems, with very different ideas of when and how things should be done. Despite these differences, we are united by our humanity and by our desire to do what’s best for our community. Let’s not forget that. And while no major injuries have been reported following today’s storms yet, I’ve no doubt that we would work together--as a Tallahassee community--to help those in need and those without a strong voice at the table.

We’re living in a polarizing time, and it seems like we’re entering a new era where the ground rules change on a daily basis. If the comments on social media and news outlet sites are any indication, it can’t be easy to govern in times like this. So with that, I encourage you as commissioners and city leaders to make decisions that best meet the needs of the people of Tallahassee, to recognize and appreciate the perspective of those with perhaps the minority viewpoint…to make the best decisions for our community and to remain on the right side of history.

Thank you.