City blames technological error for speaker snafu at meeting
SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The city of Springfield acknowledged Nov. 5 that a computer error kept two persons, including a community activist and advocate, off the speaker list at the Nov. 4 city council meeting. The organization headed by Tiara Standage wasn't buying the city's explanation, releasing its own statement Nov. 6. Standage said while she received an error message from the city clerk's office about it sending a confirmation email after attempting to sign up almost a week in advance of the meeting, she contacted the office by phone and said she received a verbal confirmation that she was on the speaker's list. More: Chaotic scene after activist isn't allowed to speak at city council All of the members of The PURPLE (People United to Reform Power, Liberty and Equity) Coalition who signed up to speak online received the same error message as Standage. They also called into the clerk's office and got individual confirmations. Standage was the only member of the coalition not allowed to speak. Standage, who has her own history SPD administration, insisted after the meeting she was being singled out because she was going to publicly call for the resignation of Springfield Police Department Lt. Charles
