MEGATHREAD: didn’t have time to sit through the 9 ½ hour Lafayette City Council meeting last night? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are the highlights. Buckle up folks, shit’s wild. #lafmtg

Councilperson Cameron Burk begins a night of bullying and antagonism by characterizing all the hard work done by the city staff and consultants as “third grade modeling”. What a bully. #lafmtg

Continuing is antagonism, Burk asks the developer representative the same questions multiple times. After not getting the answer he’s looking for, Mayor Anderson eventually shuts him down. It ends with “deep disappointment”. #lafmtg

Almost 5 ½ hours into the meeting, public comment finally begins. First comment from Benji Levine. Great stuff about #InclusiveLafayette itself and the historic racism that is alive and well in Lafayette. Great start! #lafmtg

Followed up quickly by an amazing high schooler from #InclusiveLafayette Nicole Wan. These young adults are truly impressive. #lafmtg

@ArmandDoma points out the ridiculousness of how long this project has dragged on #lafmtg

@thezoesiegel from @gbeltalliance calls out Councilperson Burk’s hypocrisy on supporting Inclusive Lafayette but not this project and reminds the Council of their legal liability. #lafmtg

And then the big guns show up: @akronisticlotor “Lafayette may no longer choose between housing or no housing. You may decide between housing and consequences" #lafmtg

Wait, what? A white, senior citizen advocating for housing and racial equity?!? A member of #InclusiveLafayette?!? This woman is a rare bird and my new favorite. Where do I sign up for more of Alison Hill? #lafmtg

In what has to be the strangest and most surreal comment of the night, a Werner Herzog type shows up claiming the entire project must be redone to factor in Covid-19. I wonder what he thinks of all the existing apartments in Lafayette? #lafmtg

Yours truly shows up to reprimand Councilperson Burk and remind the city of its legal, moral, and ethical obligations. #lafmtg

Save Lafayette with their general non-sense and CEQA arguments that don’t apply to this project. #lafmtg

The original herself, @SonjaTrauss drops some math about how even the market rate housing will be more affordable than most of the existing housing in Lafayette. #lafmtg

Jon Olesen with climate change arguments #lafmtg

Sheila Castilla argues (almost certainly in bad faith) that because the units aren’t owner occupied, they somehow can’t actually help low income residents #lafmtg

HOLY SHIT! Jeremy Levine from #InclusiveLafayette gives an amazing summary of the arguments for the project. This is straight . If you watch nothing else, watch this #lafmtg

A long time resident claims there’s no way these apartments can be affordable because her mortgage is less than what their rent will be. Yes, when you move to a town in 1958, your mortgage will be less than what anyone else is paying for housing. #lafmtg

An incoherent and flustered Emma Workman calls in with her mom to talk about... “Deforestating” (sp?) ? “Diversity is not to be rushed”? “Bird lives matter”? Not quite sure where she was going with this one. #lafmtg

In one of the most compelling arguments for the project, Noah Starr talks about how his partner, who grew up in Lafayette and now works there as a special education teacher, can’t afford to live there #lafmtg

Great comments from Kristin Connelly who is uniquely positioned to articulate the benefits this project will have for teachers #lafmtg

45 year resident: “We do have diversity. Our mayor obviously is black.” Ah yes, the I-have-a-black-friend of NIMBY arguments. Truly staggering comments #lafmtg

@CarboneLukas gives us some more "Stop pretending that you care about high school students. If you did care, you wouldn't price us out of the bay area." #lafmtg .

Holy shit, the high schoolers just keep coming!!! Also remember, it’s almost 1:00 a.m. at this point. And still one of the better speakers. Great job Tess! #lafmtg

@Bobakkabob37 “You cannot silo off the concerns of Lafayette from the rest of the Bay Area" #lafmtg

Some great comments from Wei-Tai Kwak and his daughter Shelly (who had to go to bed) #lafmtg

South Bay Planning commissioner Adam Buchbinder #lafmtg

Finish the night with Jordan Grimes: Eric Westin and Mike Chen to bring us home #lafmtg

Thanks for following along folks! Hope this was helpful. Remember: donate to @SFyimby and @carla_org !!!

A few addendums and opinions #lafmtg

I was having trouble finding him yesterday, but y'all should check out Ronald Nahas. He (along with Allison Hill) bucked the trend and was one of the few older, white, long time residents in support of the project. His testimony was compelling. #lafmtg

Mayor Anderson is a paragon of public service. He managed the meeting so well. It's such a shame he'll be retiring. #lagmtg

I would like to be @bryanwenter when I grow up. What an absolute boss. Deftly dodges inane assertions from Burks and is cool as a cucumber the whole time. #lafmtg

Last but not least, there were a lot of other young people that I didn't have the time to highlight. Their efforts (particularly those of #InclusiveLafayette) are inspiring and fill me pride in our younger generous. Every time one of them got on I couldn't help but smile. #lafmtg