RE: CVV/commissioners' meeting attendance estimates?

["Paul Tiger" <tigerp@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Since it appears that the Daily Camera was not present, how can we trust
their judgment on a count?
The DC article had interviews with elections officials and county
commissioners taken from an earlier date. Their article did not reflect
reality, but that's not surprising as they don't seem to work well in
reality. Why bother sending a reporter to get the facts, when it is easier
to sit at your desk and make up fiction?

Paul Tiger

-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Grinbergs [mailto:saule@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 9:46 AM
To: bcv@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: CVV/commissioners' meeting attendance estimates?

Original statement:

>Just wondering what estimates people might have made of the number
>of CVV supporters at Thursday's meeting. The Daily's "Voting
>activists pack hearing" story said "about 30 members"; that seemed
>like a very conservative number.

Thanks for the responses; some excerpts:
---
From: Mary Eberle <m.eberle@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

I had already guessed 35 people raised their hands, but I am no
expert at crowd estimation and I didn't actually count. I was sitting
at the far side (left, as one faces the commissioners), so I had a
good view of the raised hands, unless there were a lot of short folks
on the right side.
---
From: "Paul Tiger" <LegislativeDirector@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

I'd say it was more like 50. Some had difficulty telling because the
room was packed. Standing room only. There were newcomers as well...
The rest of the room was reporters and county officials. You can fit
about 100 people in that room, but there weren't enough chairs for
that, so that's why people were standing. Some were standing in the
hallway because there was no place for them inside. And there were
lots of latecomers.
---
From: <bo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

I'd say 30 was about right.....
---
From: "Scott A. Morris" <samorris@xxxxxxxxxx>

Their estimate seemed off to me as well.  Unfortunately I didn't
count, but it seemed more like 50.  I was sitting in the back right
corner of the room, and from there it looked like all but a scattered
handful of the people sitting in the audience raised their hands.
That doesn't include the people that were sitting at the tables in
the back (clerks?) -- I don't remember for sure, but I don't think
they raised their hands.
---

To add my $.02 worth, it seemed that the attendance was closer to
double the Daily's estimate, but not all people were there for our
agenda item. FWIW, there were plenty of empty chairs on the left side
of the room, where the screen was (not as good a view). Given that
some people left early and others came late, I'll stick with my
estimate that CVV had some 50-60 supporters at this meeting.

Regardless of the numbers, clearly, the group made a strong and
impressive showing. Thanks to all, and, again, a huge thank-you to
Joe for that rockin' presentation.