Actually, the fluoride issue is what showed citizens that we only have the *illusion* of a voice.  Petitions, initiatives, lawsuits, and even a City-designed advisory vote all seem to give us a voice  --  but it turned out we only have the right to a voice when the City allows it, and that, even when we're granted the right, the City feels no obligation to listen to us, not even when the majority speaks.  

Whatever your position on fluoride, seeing how the City government steamrolled the will of the people on this issue was chilling.  And I don't understand Ms Willadsen's claim that the City Council has no power  --  again, using fluoridation as the example, it was unilateral action on the part of the City Councils of 2006 and 2016 that created the problem, and the Council's open disregard of the wishes of their constituents that brought unrest to the boil.