OMG how is this council business?! What a waste of council time. Does Penta act this way so the council can't address any actual council business?

Also, Penta needs to ride his buggy back to the 19th century.

Dear Neighbors,

I would first like to thank Mr. Penta for doing a great job with a very
sensitive topic. Policies are still being hammered out as we speak as they should be. Bathrooms and shower areas are areas that need to be worked out so that the transgendered person does not feel, "separate but equal" but also, the privacy of the other girls and boys is not denied. If some unisex single bathrooms need to be rehabbed then that is what this city needs to do. As I female in the VA, most of the female bathrooms are what used to be the janitors closets. Boys and girls of all genders should not be afraid of their transgender classmates and everyone's privacy should be respected. Outside of bathrooms and shower adjustments, this should be a non-issue. Unfortunately, we also need to be aware that some boys and girls could "use" this issue to wrongfully gain access to opposite bathrooms or showers. Should this occur, their should be consequences to said person. It is not funny and should be taken seriously by the school system and the administration. This "joke" causes harm to the transgender community and to the girls (should the offender be a boy). He or she (should the offender be a girl) risks emotionally harming the other kids and makes life harder on the true transsexuals. This issue can be accommodated and should be. No pun intended but this issue needs to come out of the closet.

Respectfully,
Jeanne Martin

Respectfully,

Jeanne Martin

I'm sorry, I am very old fashioned and so happy that my children are almost out of the public schools. I have no issue with an individual's choice but it seems these few individuals are going to make it hard and uncomfortable for all others. People are made up as two physical types, males and females. Ones thoughts, desires and choices are all separate issues here. Personally, if my children were having to share bathrooms/locker rooms with the opposite sex in an elementary/high school environment, they would be pulled from the system immediately. Without offending anyone, we do not have a third gender, people are either male or female, end of story. Life choices should not be forced upon others.

Where does the City Council come off saying people "choose" their gender. You are what you are. A child born as an hermaphrodite does not "choose" which sex, and if a parent or both parents choose the wrong sex, if they choose "boy" when the child is actually a female, how is that the child's choice? Ms. Martin has some good perspectives but I "respectfully", to use her word, disagree with her. The City Council was insensitive even claiming someone "chooses" to be male or female and shows a complete and utter lack of understanding and compassion on this issue. Glad it's an election year, now I can make an informed choice. That choice will be my choice.

Jeanne is known for commenting on every post . She needs to run for council so she can voice her thoughts more.

I don't mind her multiple posts, de, and a good lively on topic debate helps the public hash out the issues. Not enough of that in Medford. Who knows who will run in 2013, it should be an interesting campaign season. Sure would love to see term limits here.

What is going on in this world?

People are no longer ignoring the obvious, Jeremy.

Good point Luciano . Maybe we need some fresh blood in these council seats

Dear Neighbors,
While I am pro-integrating transgendered people into all aspects of our city, we must all keep in mind that we have a "separate but equal" public bathroom and shower policy based on anatomy. My point and you know I have one is that we need to talk about this public policy in depth. Well intentioned people can right bad policy. We may need to look at retro-fitting some single bathroom facilities for everyone to use. If we have several unisex single bathrooms the girl that may feel uncomfortable undressing in front of a person with male anatomy could use it as well. Food for thought. One day this may be a non-issue but for right now we Do segregate in these public facilities based on anatomy.
And yes, it is time for some middle-class yuppies to run for council. This way they would have to answer the question; great idea but who's going to pay for it?
If you don't vote for Penta, who Will you vote for. Middle-class profs - it's your turn.
Respectfully,
Jeanne Martin

Jeanne, are middle class individuals and families new to Medford? What distinguishes a middle class person from a yuppie, or are they by definition one and the same? It is a blanket term for people who support different city priorities than you?
Respectfully,
RayMay

and p.s. I am still not sure why the City Council weighed in on this matter and why it can't just be handled by the School Committee. Am I missing something?

Here's the definition of "yuppie" from Merriam-Webster.com, and I take the usage example to mean that the word has a slightly pejorative taint.

yup·pie noun, often capitalized \ˈyə-pē\

Definition of YUPPIE: a young college-educated adult who is employed in a well-paying profession and who lives and works in or near a large city

Examples of YUPPIE
Her friends are just a bunch of yuppies.

Origin of YUPPIE
probably from young urban professional + -ie
First Known Use: 1981

© 2013 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

I agree it's a school committee issue. I am all for each it's own, but to explain to a 3rd grader about why a boy is using the girls bathroom is to much. They need their own bathrooms

Thanks, Ann, for the definition. So are the differences between a middle-class person and a yuppie a). age and b). income? How young do you have to be to be a yuppie? How well off??

Also, for the record, I haven't voted for more than three or four city council candidates, ever. There's no reason you have to if you don't like the choices available to you.

Can anyone explain to this city council viewer why there are only five people in the audience, and then sometimes thirty or more? Since the School Committee and Council meetings seem like private affairs, wouldn't it be wise to have a citizens night every week for the public to be able to speak freely? Have a "Transgender Discussion Night", "Meadow Glen Mall Discussion"? Have Ms. Martin as the moderator. Just an idea, at least we could all meet face to face.

Dear Neighbors,
Middle-class professionals are not always yuppies, but they over lap. I do believe it is time for a change. I would love to see some new faces on the council. I would also like to see a new face in the Mayor's seat. It is time for the old timers, the Mayor, Mr. Penta, and Mr. Miaocco to step down and let some fresh blood in. We need people with new ideas and new vision. Thank you for the definition Ann. A middle-class person could be a hardware store owner or a plumber with a good business model. A yuppie are all the people flocking into Medford after graduating from one of our surrounding magnet colleges, marrying (double income), and have have generally great 9-5 jobs with bene's. It is their turn to take a seat on the council. Their should be more yuppies who have the time to run for Mayor or Council. All the current Mayor and Council do is argue and play behind the scenes horse-trades. I actually think yuppies could bring a more open process to the fore, however, I also think they would sober up when they see the price tag for running local government.

Respectfully,
Jeanne Martin

Very true Jeanne

Jeanne when you say "That says something about Medford's people, not the Council. Also, civics, government, classes should be pushing participation at school committee and city council meetings." i have to disagree with the first part. The councilors act like it is a private party. Remember how dismissive they were to that old man who would show up (he brought a bag of rocks one day to show the state the city was in ). They scared him away, he's not been around anymore. Women get dressed down by some of the councilors, rebuke that is uncalled for and designed to keep people out of City Hall. Can you honestly say the behavior of the Council President is welcoming in any way? The second part of your statement is appropriate - civics and government classes should push participation in all aspects of government. It wasn't taught in my high school or in the college I went to. It's a great idea. I think they don't want the masses knowing too much.

Dear Luciano,
Thank you for your thoughts. All the more reason why if 100 out of 56,000 people showed up in the hall every Tuesday night - it Would change the culture of our civic life. We don't show up and we get the government we deserve. As for women, if 50 women were sitting in the audience and could get up and speak on an issue right after someone was dressed down, the council would be called on it. We, the people are not demanding change. I know not everyone can do what I do and show up every week, but if everyone set aside one Tuesday night every three months - this would change the culture you are looking for. When there is a large audience, their demeanor changes - mind would too if I were in their shoes. Luciano, thank you for considering my thoughts. City Hall is The Peoples House and we don't not need an invitation we already have a standing reservation.

Respectfully,

Jeanne Martin

Oh boy...