Public Comment Tips

Here's some tips that work for us, they might work for you too! When you're working with just 3 minutes, less is more. (Please do NOT copy the examples, but use them as inspiration for your own words!)

• Start with a hook. A striking fact like "I spend $1,000 a semester to get here" or "I've wanted to go around Silicon Valley but I can't" snaps people awake faster than just listing points.
• Paint a picture. Numbers land harder if you pair your stories with imagery, such as "$2,000 for public transit is nearly half of my tuition, but BayPass would make my commute just cost a single textbook". Describe your everyday commute or where you go with transit.
• Express disappointment. If you were part of BayPass phase 1, talk about how much it sucked when it got pulled. If you were shocked that BayPass was vetoed by admin in 2024, tell them about that!
• Leave room to breathe. 3 minutes does feel short, but if you give a pause after a line, it lets your points sink in and makes you seem more confident, rather than rushed.
• End on a call-to-action. Don't leave your points hanging, rather give a clear ask, even if it's small. An example would be "I encourage the adoption of BayPass as it would help me get to my classes without me thinking about the money in my wallet". Make it clear that the solution to the campus' commute problems is BayPass.

Please make sure you practice your speech with a stopwatch (and not look at it as you speak naturally) to ensure that it fits within 3 minutes. Practice helps a lot. You are allowed to bring up your phone or a paper with your speech or notes and read off from it. If scripting your speech word-for-word works better for you, go ahead!