It is the biggest night of the year! Michael Karlik addresses Congress about the wild state of our city council meetings. There are updates on the upward movement of past guests and excerpts from the interviews of Esmeralda Soria, Jimmy Stathatos, Alberto Garcia, Lesley Alexander, and Jesse Kiehl.

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweet.

Elaine Hays--Amarillo, TX councilmember--and her four other colleagues were ALL first-timers when they took office in 2017. We cover all of the changes these fresh faces made to the meetings, including altering the seating chart and having the mayor assign homework. Plus, one public commenter who told the mayor he's in love with her!

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweet.

Music credits:

Colby Sledge--Nashville, TN councilman--has a whopping 39 other people on his metro council, so naturally we go nuts dissecting the procedural quirks of such a large body. Plus, what is "councilmanic courtesy?" And why are there no "councilwomen" in Nashville? We go over these unwritten council rules and many more.

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweet.

Music credits:

Alberto Garcia--Westminster, CO former councilor--gets candid about the things that would grind his gears at council meetings. We talk about how surprisingly controversial garbage collection was, then relive a wild series of meetings prompted by a councilor's inflammatory comments.

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweet.

Music credits:

Jennifer Passey--Fairfax, VA councilmember--was elected three months ago and her council meetings have been pretty normal. EXCEPT for the guns in meetings issue. And EXCEPT for the vice mayor controversy. And EXCEPT for me grilling her about my childhood dog and high school crush.

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweet.

Music credits:

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweets.

Music credits:

Esmeralda Soria--Fresno, CA councilmember--had to watch nearly four dozen impassioned citizens argue for or against displaying "In God We Trust" in the council chamber. She discusses whether that fight could have been avoided, and about the council member who instigated it. Plus, we talk gift-giving and animal adoption.

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweets.

Music credits:

Jesse Kiehl--Juneau, AK Assembly Member--is optimistic about getting cameras in his meetings next year. We talk about the styles of past mayors, the difference between the Assembly and the Alaska legislature, and a disturbing incident that happened mere feet from the council chamber.

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweets.

Music credits:

Promotional ad for the City Council Chronicles podcast.

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweets.

Music credits:

News Theme by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Lesley Alexander--Bristol, UK Lord Mayor--explains the difference between herself and the elected mayor. (Spoiler: she has a mansion and he has aggravation.) She reveals her experience facing down an assailant outside a council meeting and agrees to make one small change in the way she runs Bristol's meetings.

City Council Chronicles provides reviews of city council meetings from across the world. Named a "Top 100 Local Government Influencer" in 2016 and 2017 by ELGL.org.

Link: https://councilchronicles.com/ Twitter: @michaelkarlik.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citycouncilchronicles/.

Graphic by Ben Wasserman: @benwassetweets.

Music credits:

Darkness is Coming by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100584 Artist: http://incompetech.com/