*** WATCH *** Levesque Moves to Silence “Rabble-Rousing” Applause...

HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS – Thursday evening’s Barnstable Town Council meeting on October 1 was unusually well attended by residents and merchants concerned about plans to convert downtown Hyannis streets from one-way to two-way traffic—a change some say has been tried before and failed. Public comment ran longer than usual, with most speakers saying they had not been properly informed about the project. Several voiced anger that work is already underway on a change they believe will worsen traffic and quality of life for Hyannis and the surrounding area.

In the council’s response, Councilor Levesque appeared to scold residents who applauded points made by opponents of the controversial project, saying:

“I do think, and I will say, I, I do think it’s dangerous, um, to have, um, ah, a rabble-rousing and all the applause ’cause I think it gives, um, the impression that somebody who has an opposite opinion, um, eh, not the ability to really be able to voice their opinion without being afraid. So, I think, um, eh, I think we can do better there—and I would also encourage, um, leadership [Levesque then apparently turns and addresses Council President Craig Tamash] to not allow applause because I think it doesn’t—it’s contrary to what we’re trying, um, to accomplish here, so—and I’ll keep saying that until it stops.”

Levesque then called James Kupfer, Barnstable’s Director of Planning and Development, to the podium for what amounted to a rebuttal of the opposition—without further discussion. Meanwhile, many residents and merchants are demanding further discussion and debate before this multi-million-dollar project moves forward. [DEVELOPING]

In the following video, Hyannis News caught up with three prominent Town of Barnstable residents—Town Councilor Lisa DaLuz, Ben Jeffries of the Mass. Bay Co., and Tina Carey, former owner of Gringo’s—to hear their thoughts on Levesque’s response to public comment, as well as their views on the controversial plans to convert downtown Hyannis streets to two-way traffic.

[HYANNIS NEWS VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]