One Man's Dream, One City Council's Nightmare

[XLFD]

Before I even knew conclusively that the City Councilors would vote to accept the Stipulated Judgment, I had a speech to say during their meeting that steered clear of that subject, but addressed the man whom I have grown to respect over the last few years, Martin Luther King, whose day it was according to my calendar.  I have put up threads about Mr. King during this time (2010) (2011) (2012), because I believe his travails back then, being oppressed by racism in society, mirror a lot of our travails now, but the main oppressors are the unrestrained tyrants using their government power to strip all people of their rights.

It is not only my struggle with what I have concluded is a corrupted city government, and a county government which isn't any better, just bigger, but also the struggle of many oppressed by all levels of government officials and overreaching policies.  Dr. King has a lot to teach Tea Partiers, Libertarians, Conservatives, and all others who listen to the wise revolutionaries who set our government up, because we can't really understand the thoughts of our forefathers except through some of their written words which still exist concerning life 250 years ago when conditions were much different.  But we can look at and channel the thoughts and ideas of Martin Luther King a lot better.  I tried my best at Monday's Ludington City Council to do so, starting my five minutes at about the 2:00 mark.

Tom Rotta, 137 E Dowland.

Today is Martin Luther King Day; he is best known for his role in seeking fairness and justice using nonviolent methods.  I look to Dr. King as a role model, much as he looked to Mahatma Gandhi as such, and I dedicate today's public comment to his memory.

Dr. King said that "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."  There have been evils committed by those in these halls, some I have commented on, some I have not, but as Dr. King said:  "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

And I will not remain silent about the things that matter to me.  Mayor Henderson issued a direct challenge to me at the last meeting to try to make this town a better place.  Mayor Henderson in his role as Mayor appoints and oversees the Marina Board, which hires about a dozen workers each summer.  In the spring of 2011, there were no postings for these jobs in local schools, on the city web sites, anywhere I looked, in early May I even sent two people to the marina to ask for jobs, of which there weren't any available.

This troubled me because payroll records showed that two daughters of the mayor worked there the previous summer, the assistant City Manager's daughter was working there, and several other kids who were the sons and daughters of city officials/employees worked there.  Is this just and fair to the sons and daughters of our unconnected Ludington citizens who are trying to find jobs like these?  The Marina's hiring practices remain a secret, as they have no such records detailing the same available through FOIA.

So-- is keeping an unlevel playing field making Ludington a better place?  I surely don't think so, but I do not have the viewpoint of being in a position of power and prestige.  As Dr. King said:  "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."  I know in my own mind that I stand in the right place, how about you, Mr. Mayor?   Dr. King said that "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" I challenge you to work for the people.

Today, the City Council will go forth for the second time in 25 months in changing its FOIA policy once again so that it will be harder and more costly to get the public records that belong to us, the people.  I recently asked for records showing any extra hours or overtime incurred by the City for responding to my less than once a week FOIA requests, and no such record existed, meaning that when they get up on their soapbox and say that tens of thousands of dollars of expense has been incurred due to my requests, they are deceiving you once again. 

I will end my tribute today by being creatively maladjusted, like Dr. King, and adapt his most famous speech so as to apply to modern day Ludington:

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this city will rise up and live out the true meaning of its charter's preamble: "We, the people of the City of Ludington, grateful to God for the blessings of freedom, peace, and justice, in order to secure the benefits of efficient self-government and to promote our common welfare, do ordain and establish this Charter."

I have a dream that one day on the sandy shores of Ludington the sons of citizens and the sons of city officials will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood, and have equal opportunity for City jobs.

I have a dream that one day even the County of Mason, a County sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that the children of Ludington will one day live in a city where they will not be judged by their lack of government connections but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, here in Ludington, with its unaccountable officials, with its City Manager having his lips dripping with the words of non-transparency and perjury; one day right there in Mason County, citizens of all types will be able to ask questions and critique their leadership without getting personally attacked and sanctioned by their government.

I have a dream today. (At this point, the Mayor's stopwatch went off, and he told me my time was up.  I knew with the topics concerned it was pointless to ask for more time, as I had a couple more lines, but I finished with:)

"I Have a dream that one day I'll be able to speak for more than five minutes."

After having channelled Dr. Martin Luther King as I tweaked his speech, the City Council for the rest of the meeting channelled the Birmingham Police Department in responding to the pressing issues of the City using high-pressure water jets and police dogs against those who would use FOIA or whistleblow the City's illegal acts.

[XLFD]

It definitely would be nice if they at least justified their sizable holdings in the banks, and explained exactly why the City has only raised taxes and fees over this time, claiming their own brand of "indigency".  A capital fund is one thing, but these assets do indicate the prior over-taxing of the taxpayers, and could serve as a potential (no winter pun intended) slush fund.

Speaking of "Bewitched", even though the show is about 50 years old, the young 'un loves this show and usually watches an episode or two before bed.

[AQUAMAN]

Only problem is when Samantha twitched her nose it was for good purposes, when Holman twitches her nose, it's because of her personal bacteria issues with bathing and looking like a female sasquatch are too prevalent....lol.  QUIT HOARDING OUR MONIES COL, give refunds and tax decreases as warranted by your hoarding! Ever wonder what and how much the temptation is for "slush funds/siphoning potentials" are for these funds, and if and when audits are being done to protect them? Wondering if any nests at city hall are getting feathered from these funds too, it's just too much money to sit and ignore year after year for those in control of these vast sums of $$$ imho.