Letter to the Editor: No to Citizen Voices

June 12, 2026 – Alice McNally

Two public hearings, no opportunity to state one’s case!

The Edison Community Engagement Panel, is anything but engagement.

My colleague Nina Babiaz and I registered for the June 4th CEP meeting on zoom. 

My name was listed on the speaker list, and hers was not. I was skipped over and I was never called to speak. My colleague was not on the list and had her hand raised for 3 hours. I was on the meeting for 3 hours and hand raised the for last 20 mins.

Charles Langley from Public WatchDogs advised the CEP Chair, Dan Stetson, that we were waiting to speak, but he abruptly ended the meeting. 3 hours of our time wasted.

(The Edison CEP meetings are paid for through the Nuclear Decommissioning fund by us, the rate payers.)

The San Diego June 11th California Coastal Commission was no better. 

Two colleagues and I attended in person, spoke and tried to hold the attention of the commissioners. Several of who were busy on their phones, eating & talking amongst themselves.

I asked Vice Chair, Caryl Hart, who was leading the meeting, to have a word about responsibility & decorum with the commissioners and she said she “could not as they are volunteers.” 

To my knowledge this is not true. Although they are not full time employees the commission is made up evenly of members of the public & state appointees. All are paid per diem to attend hearings or while conducting official commission business.

Regardless, this is very rude, discourages public participation and defeats the purpose of a public hearing, again paid for by us, the tax payers.

Where can our voices be heard if not at a public hearing?

Alice McNally

Stratford Court