City Council Moves to Ban Vuvuzelas from Meetings

Bowing to pressure today from City Channel Pittsburgh and Comcast Cable, City Council approved a standing rule that would ban vuvuzelas in council chambers.

The move came in response to the increasing prevalence of the instruments during the public comment period. The request for the ban came from City Clerk Linda Johnson who complained that in the process of transcribing the meeting minutes from the recordings, her staff could not differentiate the monotonous droning buzzing sound from that of Doug Shields.

"This is a great move to preserve the decorum of Council," said co-sponsor Theresa Smith, "despite concerns about whether free speech extends to musical instruments". The legislation's other co-sponsor Mr. Sheilds added "Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

City Channel Pittsburgh and Comcast had also complained to Council that the vuvuzela din was driving its viewer away to reruns of JAG.

The vuvuzela will still be allowed elsewhere in the City-County building and other municipal offices, however, any correspondence with PWSA by vuvuzelas must be followed up in writing.

The legislation is expected to be signed by the Mayor within the next two days.