Lack of participation
There has been a noticeable drop in participation in community events and activities and I have no idea to the reason. Now that they have passed, (I didn’t want to be accused of boycotting the events) I can tell you that the participation in Ciclovia on August 7th and 21st was very poor when compared to the previous two years. The streets were empty and children were not even taking advantage of the opened water hydrants.
It was not lack of publicity. We did our part for weeks and Vilma Dominguez-Martinez (formerly Lora) was often on the radio. Was it too hot a day? Staying at home would not make it better.
Then, last week’s Dominican Parade was a total flop. The Parade was short, it didn’t have the usual colorful floats and to make it worse, hardly anybody along the streets. I think it was because it turned out to be heavy with politicians and people are getting tired of them. I noticed that even their contingents were small.
Where I expected a large showing was the Candidates Forum for the State Representative seat and it turned out to be a dud. Marcos Devers was probably afraid that he could not respond in English with the ease of his two opponents. Besides, he would have had to defend the work he has been doing and he doesn’t have much to show. The end result was that not many people attended and there was no substance.
Councilor Brian DePeña
I am hesitant about expressing what I think of Councilor DePeña as it may be too soon but perhaps he needs a wakeup call. My disappointment is growing and it does not have anything to do with his votes. I maintain that we elect them to represent us and vote their conscience based on the information in front of them. We, the voters, should decide next elections if we should vote them in again.
It has to do with being responsible for a job that he selected and fought to obtain but I think that he believed he was joining a social club. He soon found out that there are no friends in the council – unless he votes their way. Brian does not like controversies or discrepancies, so he should not be there.
Brian appears to be unprepared at meetings because he never has an opinion and rarely has a dissenting vote.
What motivated me this time to write about him is his extended vacation during the month of July and part of August while the council was in session and discussing important issues. To make matters worse, he missed another important meeting on August 16, which can only mean that he is not taking his responsibilities at the City Council seriously enough.
Definition of a leader
That is a word we tend to throw around very loosely but no one can describe what makes a person be a real leader. A good leader does not have to be well educated or wealthy. Age, marital status or physical attractiveness has nothing to do with it and politicians are not by definition leaders. Yet we find leaders everywhere we go – even if we do not recognize them as such.
The manager or supervisor who can get his employees to do every task he suggests; the radio or television personality that instructs wisely a community while treating everyone with respect. The teacher whose students deliver every assignment as requested, always willing to do more; the volunteer at some non-profit organization who solves problems for the agency and the people it serves. They have one thing in common: They reason things out without arguments, in a convincing manner, inspiring others to do the same.
That is the key word: Inspire.
Unfortunately, there are very few leaders in our Spanish-speaking community because each time somebody shows leadership traits others come along with unreasonable and unfounded accusations discouraging them from speaking out. That becomes a test of true leadership: in spite of the criticisms, they stick around with their convictions.
Thank you, Wendy Luzón!
A couple of Saturdays ago, during the opening ceremony of an event held at the Campagnone Common, Councilor Brian DePeña parked his car in the new road inside the park, along with other spectators. Wendy told him off in more ways than one, screaming, “Don’t think because you are a city councilor you can park here,” Brian told us. He tried to explain that he was not on the grass but on the paved road but she kept her barrage going.
Well done, Wendy! We all have to take care of that park but your position as Neighborhood Planner doesn’t involve taking care of the park. The only thing I wonder is why you didn’t go after anyone else parked there. I know… It is all politics: He is supporting Juana Matías for State Rep.
