Shall the Palo Alto City Charter be amended to change the number of Council Member seats from nine to seven, commencing on January 1, 2019?

Henry David Thoreau famously said, “who governs best governs least” but in the same essay, “Civil Disobedience” (1849) he also called for what in contemporary terms might be called civic engagement. Or move on.

Keeping the Council composition at nine members rather than the proposed reduction to seven better ensures a representative council, responsive to the spectrum of needs of the people.

In terms of efficiency leadership could learn to be brief.

Palo Alto has a 120-year history on enthusiastic and passionate engagement in local self-governance. The abruptly proposed measure could constitute a breach in that fabric.

Keep it simple. Keep the status quo. Nine is fine. Against the Amendment.