I support the twin goals of Hear Mt. Pleasant, as I see them: increasing the kinds of cultural and social offerings that Mt. Pleasant businesses can provide while also increasing democratic participation in our neighborhood.

First, I support the effort to end the pre-emptive and arbitrary prohibitions on specific types of expression, including live music. I am completely unconvinced that live music, in and of itself, creates conditions that are harmful to our neighborhood. This ban makes no sense and weakens our social choices and connections.

I also support the democratic approach of Hear Mt. Pleasant in encouraging discussion, dissent, and debate. It respects and amplifies voices currently squelched in the &ldquot;voluntary&rdquot; agreement process.

The supporters of the current voluntary agreements have made disparaging comments about &ldquot;outsiders,&rdquot; which seemed to be a sweeping reference to young people, renters, and newcomers. I was surprised and disheartened by the blatant offensiveness of these comments.

I moved into a group house on Kilbourne Place in 1988 – as a young, renting, newcomer. After having moved as far south as Crescent Place (!) and as far west as San Francisco (!!), I always come back to Mt. Pleasant. Now I'm not so young, I own my home, and I'm not so new to the neighborhood. But I'm not sure why that matters. I hope Mt. Pleasant is a place that can hear and respect all voices -- a neighbor is a neighbor

Robin Kane lives in Mt. Pleasant with her partner and daughter and is a consultant working with nonprofit organizations.