Join the nationwide day of solidarity with Minnesota.
Friday, January 23 is a National Day of Solidarity and push for corporate accountability led by Minnesota organizers and national allies.
# The Ask
Support the transparency ordinance to be voted on at the City Council meeting on Monday, February 2nd.
# Why
### Background:
In October, a resolution (Resolution 17-25) was filed by the mayor’s executive assistant without the knowledge of the councilperson listed as its sponsor, Dale Basham. Councilperson Basham had filed and signed a previous version of this resolution, which had been withdrawn, and **the mayor’s office reused Councilperson Basham’s signature from the prior resolution without Councilperson Basham’s knowledge**. Then, in November, council member Nora Powell sponsored an ordinance that would require all future ordinances and resolutions to be filed directly by a councilperson or legal counsel. The goal was to prevent this same kind of mistake in the future. _**The ordinance failed: all five Republicans voted against, and all four Democrats voted in favor.**_ Immediately following the vote, >> Councilperson Powell stated:
>>”Five members of our council just voted down introducing something that would provide verification that we’re doing things to protect ourselves…You cast a vote that says, ‘I am not for transparency, and I am not for following rules.’”
You can find a more thorough description of these events in the [Muncie Post-Democrat](https://munciepostdemocrat.com/index.php/2025/11/06/council-republicans-vote-against-ordinance-ensuring-council-signatures-arent-forged).
### The New Ordinance:
At the January meeting, a new ordinance was introduced with the same intent. Councilpeople will vote on the ordinance at the February meeting.
# How
### What You Can Do:
* _Email your city councilpeople_ and encourage them to support the ordinance. Click [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fxldEYW3RIqM_CKdq5-JkuUNhTBWbn9G8EMiKALipPM/edit?usp=sharing) for contact information as well as email templates.
* _Attend the February meeting_
* Show support by showing up.
* Speak in support of the ordinance. Click [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gO0glB2V7MxpzMRo6zivlvRxlUbmoBJKA7pcHpPcXhk/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.uh9ofnhul49d) for ideas, talking points, and more.