I've sat through three city council meetings where public comment was dominated by the same five voices, and I'm starting to wonder if our local government actually represents anyone else. The zoning laws we passed last month were shaped almost entirely by property owners over 50 who showed up religiously, while renters under 30 — who make up 40% of our district — stayed home. Is it fair to say that participatory democracy only works for those with time and money to spare, since our voting hours and meeting schedules favor retirees and the wealthy?