Hello Ward 3, and all of Westfield… First of all I have to apologize for not publicly offering my most sincere sympathies to the Nunez family at the loss of a son, brother, and so much more…He too was a fireman. My neighbor and former police Captain Paul, his brother Martin, and the rest of their family who have committed their lives, literally to public service, again my apologies for the delay. My computer was down and to a degree, so was I.
As well, I want to thank the man at DPW/Water Resources. I parked my car near there, by a building that had a lot of snow on it, so as to walk Ollie in Whitney Park. When I returned the snow had fallen onto my car. This man upon seeing me approach came out to let me know that when he heard the snow crash, he came out to check on my car and nothing seemed damaged. A common conversation these days is how people don’t care…this made it even more important that he did and took the time to let me know. We do have wonderful city workers, of who we should be proud. Not just for their work, but their caring too. Another DRW worker, knowing me as a former Ward 3 Councilor, and my other gadfly interests, approached me at different time to let me know he found the remains of the original fountain from the city common. He researched, and found a great deal provenance about it. That the original was done by some people of great renown, and he has pursued this to get the city to hopefully dig it out, it is an important part of our city’s history. I promised to help where I can.
The challenge of living in interesting times leaves us with so much to comment upon. OK, the Fed….I have been involved in civic affairs for over 50 years. In that time I have witnessed every kind of attitude, con job, gamesmanship that you can think of; but of late it has really gone over the top. I hear so many complain about politics, and politicians…first, you do not have been elected to be a politician. Some of the most outrageous wheeler/dealers have been in the private and community sectors.
To use the death of 17 people in Florida for political advantage is one of the lowest forms of dirty politics. Oh it has been done before but to the extent that is has been used; sinful. Scammers on Social Media falsified pictures to smear teenagers who went through that horrific event. The President to smear the FBI, when the locals, who had jurisdiction did not do their jobs. The head of the FBI is not accountable. A local FBI office maybe, though I agree that their failure to purse was wrong…but that happens in bureaucracies, sorry to say.
The idea of armed teachers, NO. It would not scare them away. For people who want to die famous in an exciting event, this would be a challenge. Why, then, a gun, bring in a bomb. I worked with juvenile offenders, and in Human behavior jobs…you would be amazed by how some pictured their parting goodbye to the world. The guy in Vegas, still no reason why, try spectacular and famous. Thus, a challenge for the next. These people collect stories of past killers. As for Trumps suggestion of deporting them, before or after they get killed? Anyway where do we deport Americans as in Columbine, South Carolina church shooting, or the Texas one; or the guy in Vegas, et al? Maybe they think that living with shootings in bars, the streets, of 1890’s Tombstone, Arizona would add some excitement? Oh, and how do you tell who is a Good guy or a bad guy? They do not wear black or white hats; just join in the shooting spree? I have known a lot of people who own guns for hunting and for defending their homes. They were responsible with them, even the more dangerous types. This Carte Blanche is wrong. Assault weapons??? For what? It was scary enough trying to talk down a drunk with a beef at bar with a 357 that could shot through a wall and hit an innocent by stander. The only ones are those who fear their world, or the government. But, would it not be more reasonable to stop the source of the fear, versus add to it? Or, maybe it is just too many cowboy movies growing up?
Those high schoolers reaction was not to riot or protest but to advocate. I have to give them a lot respect for how, with that emotional tragedy to be more responsible than the adults. They are seeking a turn out for support on March 15, we too should be there. High Schooler, college students, parents, teachers, clergy…all of us. For at last a glimmer of sanity, and hope for the Next New Generation to whom we can pass the torch for American principles. Last it is despicable that in Teas and elsewhere that HS principles would threaten students with suspensions if they lived up to the roles and responsibilities that way too many do not. Rant done, but to be continued shortly. Your former Ward 3 City Councilor, Brian Hoose [email protected].
