Stunning his colleagues newly installed CM Terry Taplin voted “no” on a motion in his first appearance as a Berkeley city council member.
“Councilmember Taplin, perhaps I misheard,” said Mayor Arreguìn. “Your vote was to abstain, correct?”
“No means no, Mr Mayor,” Taplin clarified. “D2’s days of expressing disagreement in the least effective manner possible are over.”
A hush fell over his stunned colleagues, for whom a pattern of unanimity and abstention has dominated their time in office.
“I didn’t even know that ‘no’ was an option,” said CM Robinson.
“When things come in late, I just abstain,” said CM Droste. “It’s easier that way. And when the packet is over 1,000 pages, it’s all late.”
Buckle up, followers of the city council. We are expecting more turbulence ahead!