By Catherine O'Neill

Okay, where were you last Tuesday?

A youth violence crisis continues in our neighborhoods, skyrocketing property taxes, the institutional structure (not the men and women) of the fire and police departments need attention. I mean I can go on, but I have limited amount of space here.

And you don't show up? Ya, ya, ya, the city council are no good for nothings. Strong mayor, weak council. Doesn't matter. You bought what they're selling. You're right where they want you; you drank the Kool-Aid.

Convenient isn't it? Everyone who "knows" tells you how powerless the Boston City Council is. You say something long enough and it might become true.

Why would some folks want you to believe it's an ineffective body that does nothing? Perhaps so they don't have to put resources on it to cover it; and those cameras and reporters could be assigned elsewhere, somewhere important, like the Hilltop plastic cow auction? (I'll let that go soon, I just have so much fun with it). It is just so much easier for so many people if the Boston City Council is fractured and ineffective.

They are our voice in City Government. How can they know what you're thinking if you don't talk to them? In a democracy we talk to our elected officials by voting. And you didn't do a whole lot of talking last Tuesday.

The Boston City Council has its issues. Who doesn't? They dedicate their lives as public servants and think important thoughts about your quality of life.

Who led the charge down to the Carney Hospital when the earth rumbled on Dorchester Avenue? The president of what? Who lobbied to lower the interest rate for City of Boston Seniors used in the Boston Tax Deferment Program?

"No one in the Boston City Council ever amounts to anything", they say. Tell that to Ray Flynn and Tom Menino.

You can bet when John Connolly (a misuse of mail, bet ya he won't do that again) takes his seat next to Stephen Murphy it will suddenly be paid attention to. Flyergate fallout. Can't you see the pictures now? Don't drink the Kool-Aid.

Team Unity (a brilliant example of divide and conquer) took a hit from your silence. How 'bout a new team? Team Boston City Council. God, could we stand another winning team in Boston? The coach of Team City Council (the voters) should think about adding at least one new member to the at-large special teams. Dare I say it? A woman.

Presently the quarterback is Dorchester City Councillor Maureen Feeney, but she needs someone on the at-large special teams of the female variety. There must be a female recruit on the farm team somewhere who can rise to this occasion in a year or two.

The disgraceful turnout last Tuesday was not about happiness with the status quo. It was about a community who has been misinformed for the last decade or so that the Boston City Council is a meaningless, powerless elected body with only one function at budget time. It's just so much easier for them if you keep drinking the Kool-Aide.

Catherine O'Neill writes weekly in the Reporter.