Aurora’s City Council, led by Mayor Mike Coffman, has systematically dismantled the public’s ability to speak at “Public Invited to Be Heard,” the only forum where residents can address their elected officials. What was once an unlimited public comment period with each resident allotted three minutes has devolved into a tightly controlled process designed to stifle community voices. Since September 2024, Aurora City Council has implemented a series of restrictive changes: requiring online sign-ups, mandating in-person registration, eliminating virtual options, limiting public comment to one hour, and most recently, moving public comment to the end of meetings while prioritizing Aurora residents who provide proof of residency. These changes have made it increasingly difficult—if not impossible—for many Aurora residents to participate.

These policies disproportionately harm immigrants, unhoused individuals, disabled residents, and those working during designated sign-up windows. Immigrants, in particular, fear retaliation or discrimination and are understandably reluctant to provide proof of residency. Aurora has been falsely spotlighted as a hub of immigration crime—Trump named his mass deportation plan “Operation Aurora” after city council members publicly vilified the immigrant community.

These restrictions are not about efficiency or order but are a direct retaliation against community members who have been demanding accountability since Aurora police killed unarmed Black man Kilyn Lewis in May 2024. Lewis’s death marked yet another failure under the consent decree ordered in 2021 after the murder of Elijah McClain. Since the decree, three unarmed Black men—Jor’Dell Richardson, Kilyn Lewis, and Kory Dillard—have been killed by Aurora police.

At the city council meeting on Monday, January 13, 2025, Mayor Coffman called for “decorum” during public comment, stating, “Please respect those who are speaking, whether you agree with the content or not. Outbursts from anyone are not permitted.” Yet, moments after the meeting adjourned, Coffman was seen harassing a community member in the municipal building, blaming them for the death of a Black child that committed suicide. Meanwhile, Councilwoman Stephanie Hancock, who has previously escalated hostility toward the community by labeling the family of Kilyn Lewis and others seeking accountability as “bullies, terrorists, anarchists, and opportunists,” proposed even more restrictive measures. Hancock’s proposal included moving public comment to the end of meetings, requiring proof of residency, and closing the municipal center if “disruptions” occur, with attendees forced to vacate within 10 minutes or face arrest.

The hypocrisy within Aurora’s leadership is glaring. Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky has told fellow councilmembers, “I hope you have miserable f**** lives. I might make that happen for a few of you. F*** You!”* This blatant disrespect, both toward the community and among the council itself, highlights a leadership unwilling to model the respect they demand from residents. Councilwoman Crystal Murillo, one of the few members opposing these restrictive measures, aptly noted, “We’ve seen that respect is not even held amongst our council members. We have to practice what we preach at a minimum.”

These shifting rules and constant barriers are not about fostering decorum; they are about consolidating control. Aurora’s leadership has repeatedly demonstrated that avoiding accountability takes precedence over addressing the legitimate concerns of their residents. As Councilwoman Murillo stated, “I don’t agree with the trajectory that we’re on, that we keep reducing our ability of residents to speak.”

Aurora’s leaders must confront the harmful precedent they are setting. Public comment is not a privilege—it is a cornerstone of democracy. By silencing residents, particularly the most vulnerable, the council undermines trust and deepens the divide between themselves and the community they are supposed to represent.