The Vote
In a landmark decision that legal scholars are calling "unprecedented" and "probably not legally binding," the Millbrook City Council voted 7-2 Tuesday to permanently ban the word "synergy" from all official municipal communications, public meetings, and the personal LinkedIn profiles of city employees.
The measure, introduced by Councilmember Patricia Voss following what she described as "the third consecutive budget presentation that used the word synergy to mean nothing specific," passed after forty-five minutes of debate that sources describe as "the most engaged the council has been since the parking meter controversy of 2023."
The Debate
Councilmember Doug Harlan, one of the two dissenting votes, argued that banning a word was "a slippery slope" and that the council should instead "focus on creating synergies between our various municipal departments to leverage our collective bandwidth toward impactful outcomes."
The chamber fell silent.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about," said Councilmember Voss.
The second dissenting vote came from Councilmember Terri Bloom, who said she supported the spirit of the measure but was concerned about enforcement. "What happens if someone says it accidentally?" she asked. "Do we fine them? Do we make them sit in the corner? I need a framework."
The content culture implications of the ban are significant. The city's communications department, which has used the word synergy an average of 4.7 times per press release since 2019, will need to find alternative language. Suggestions from the public comment period included "working together," "cooperation," and "just doing the thing."
The Enforcement Question
The ordinance, as written, applies to "all official municipal communications including but not limited to press releases, meeting minutes, strategic plans, vision documents, and the annual report, which has used the word synergy on its cover for six consecutive years."
The city attorney, Marcus Webb, noted in a written opinion that the ordinance "raises significant First Amendment questions" and that he "would not recommend defending it in court." He also noted that he had used the word synergy twice in the written opinion before catching himself, and that he found this "deeply embarrassing."
The cultural rebellion against corporate language has been building for years. The Millbrook ordinance is the first time it has taken legislative form, though similar measures have been proposed in at least three other municipalities, all of which tabled the discussion after someone pointed out that the agenda item was titled "Synergizing Our Communication Strategy."
What Happens Next
The ordinance takes effect in thirty days. The city's strategic planning consultant, who was present at the meeting and whose contract includes the phrase "synergistic stakeholder engagement" seventeen times, declined to comment.
Councilmember Voss said she plans to introduce follow-up legislation targeting "leverage," "bandwidth," and "circle back," in that order. "We're going to do this systematically," she said. "One word at a time."
She paused. "I almost said 'strategically.' I'm going to need a support group." More cultural commentary and satire at culture and Spoof Daily.