Read carefully, then listen to yourself
When I wrote this column last week, I thought it would bring out my critics in droves. And that’s OK. I express my opinion and praise anyone willing to speak up with his or her own. I want to make people think instead of accepting what they are told. The problem is that very few people are willing to establish that communication.
I have said that people, particularly in Lawrence, are cowards. I know it’s easier not to think, even not to know about anything, listen to music or radio all day long, and let someone else make decisions for us and our futures.
Trust me, there’s nothing more rewarding than being challenged for something I said in an intelligent diatribe, reasoning things out, but I also run the risk of hearing from some incompetent idiot whose reading ability is very limited.
This morning I received a voice message demanding that I apologize for what I said about Carlos Morel, the recycling coordinator for the city. He explained that he paid for his trip to the Dominican Republic which cost him over $1,000 and made no mention of the facts I complained about. If anyone wants to listen to it, send me an email.
If you didn’t read my column last week, this is what I said about him:
“What the hell was Carlos doing there even if Brian can justify Rosanna’s presence? He said that he took a vacation week to attend because he is an investor and a businessman in this city. His main job is working for the city and he should not have been allowed to take a week off while his boss was out, depriving the community of their services.”
I was asking as a concerned resident about something that made sense but this guy is so dense that can’t even read. I never questioned his airfare; if anything, I was criticizing the mayor for allowing him to abandon the department and the residents’ needs.
I also criticized the attendance of five city councilors because that number constitutes a quorum and according to the CITY COUNCIL RULES,
RULE 8 – QUORUM “The presence of five members of the City Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative votes of six members shall be required to adopt an appropriation order.”
Also, the CITY CHARTER prohibits it:
3.4 Prohibitions.
Quorum. Rules of Procedure. (a) Exercise of Powers. The legislative powers of the city shall be exercised by the city council as determined by its own rules unless another provision is made by law or by the charter.
(b) Quorum. The presence of five members of the city council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative votes of six members shall be required to adopt any appropriation order. Any other motion or measure may be adopted by a majority of not less than five affirmative votes, except as otherwise provided by law or by the charter.
It is well known that they discussed issues affecting the city and, upon checking, there’s no difference as to where these meetings or conversations take place. I also question if that represents a violation of the Open Meeting Law. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.
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