Thread by @shayshinecastle

Joseph is leaving early, so she's kicking us off by saying goodbye to outgoing council members Weaver, Young, Swetlik and Nagle.

They're gonna spend an hour-plus on this. I'm not gonna tweet much, bc I have little patience for ass-kissing.

Although to be fair, spending 8 years on council (Weaver, Young) may warrant a little ass-kissing.

I'll still listen, tho. Maybe someone will surprise me and give a spicy goodbye speech.

Swetlik is the most likely to do this, given his past sass. We did an excellent exit interview; I may write some of it up.

Basically, it was too hard to keep working full-time AND do council, Swetlik said.

He said he would advocate for a living wage for city council, should that happen.

But I could tell he was also a bit disillusioned, as a young idealist, with the political realities of Boulder.

And deeply heartbroken at the King Soopers shooting and his ineffectiveness on homelessness.

"I couldn't be responsible for those again," he said, while tearing up. "Not right now."

Also specific to deaths of unhoused community members. "I'm still part of a community that is allowing that to happen. I'm one of the leaders of that community."

Please be kind, he asks of the community.

"Please tip your servers," he finishes. "They need it more than ever."

More sweet than spicy. I guess that's on-brand for Swetlik.

Nagle, too, staying on brand, by asking that future councils think of the animals and environment. Boulder isn't changing for the better, she says.

"It's been a difficult four years, probably the most challenging of my life."

Also asks for respect and kindness. I imagine we'll hear more of that from Young and Weaver.

Not that anyone will read a declaration when *I* retire from local journalism, but if they did, I'd ask for a list of my best AND worst contributions. No white washing!

Young: "I could have run again, but I thought starting my service with the 2013 floods and ending in a worldwide pandemic" seemed like a sign to stop.