Virtual Ghost Town: Reese & Martinez Phone It In While Duerr Packs the House

Councilmember Reese and Martinez’s upcoming Virtual Community Conversation reminds us of Millionaire’s “Phone a Friend” but in reverse - because at their virtual meetings they can have supporters call in and thus make it appear that someone, anyone, wants to engage with them.

Apparently, it's still 2020 for Councilmembers Devon Reese and Miguel Martinez, who are hosting virtual community forum meetings. Either they’ve forgotten the world reopened… or they’ve finally accepted that no one’s showing up to their in-person events. We lean toward the latter.

Let’s be honest: when a councilmember holds a community conversation and the only attendees are a Neighborhood Advisory Board, someone from AARP, a couple of seniors and one other under 50 it’s probably time for some self-reflection. But instead of asking why nobody shows up, Reese and Martinez have decided to dodge the answer entirely—by going virtual.

It raises a pretty simple question: If your community meetings look more like Zoom calls from your cousin’s book club, maybe the issue isn’t the format. Maybe—just maybe—it’s you.

Meanwhile, Councilmember Naomi Duerr is hosting a community forum at a local coffee shop in July and she’ll actually draw a crowd—over 100 residents at her NAB meetings, no less. Same city, same constituents, very different vibes. So what's Duerr doing that Reese and Martinez aren’t? Here’s a thought: she shows up, she listens, and people seem to actually like her. Imagine that.

Let’s rewind a second. Martinez cruised into office in 2024 largely because no strong opponent challenged him—unless you count the recycled County Commission candidate who flamed out back in 2022. As for Reese, his win wasn’t exactly a landslide. If not for a rogue flyer from Robert Beadles, his race could have gone very differently. Reese and his team like to rage against Beadles, but frankly, they owe him a thank-you card.

Now here we are: Reese and Martinez can't fill a room, so they retreat behind screens. No coffee shop conversations. No neighborhood energy. No human connection. Just a livestream and a lonely comment box.

Here’s a reality check for our ever-elusive councilmembers: If you can't get residents to engage with you in person, the solution isn't to hide. It's to do the work. Duerr does. You could ask her how.

Or hey, keep pretending it’s still 2020. We’ll be virtual with a Picon—watching, chuckling, and taking notes.