MLK DAY POTPOURRI

President Obama and VP Biden complying with the law were sworn into their

offices in a small informal ceremony on Sunday, January 20^th.

It is fitting that there should be a second and grandiose public celebration today, Martin Luther King Day. Not because this is the second inauguration of our first African American President; but a confirmation as well as a reaffirmation that four years ago the United States came of age.

Unfortunately, there are those even in this community who have forgotten that the breaking of that racial barrier should also mean that those who felt discriminated upon should not themselves express discrimination and hatred against others. 

Not until we have had a president of Muslim faith or Jewish or even Mormon and without regard to sexual persuasion will we truly have reached the millennium.

Councilor Rebecca Williams in her recent blog quoted MLK as saying: “On some positions cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right. “

I note this because one of the items added for discussion is a report on the status of the “unresolved youth baseball league matters”. That should include a response as to “who is in charge here”.  Officially it has been nobody since the resignation of the former supervisor and presumably the disengagement of those involved in the 4^th of July and baseball programs.

It is unfortunate that the youth baseball program had been marked by suggestions of racial discrimination. If this is true then it is one of the questions that have to be answered, for any individuals concerned does not merit a city appointment.

The other question which must be answered has been stonewalled since July 9, 2012 when Councilor Williams posted in her blog “A few weeks ago, I had requested from the Recreation Division a budget for ALL the Independence Day activities—what I received was a sloppy, incomplete, and questionable Excel spreadsheet. Every single dollar of public money spent on all events associated with the Independence Day parade and concert needs to be accounted for. I am still awaiting the complete and comprehensive budget I requested from the recreation superintendent—along with all bids, required quotes, and signed contracts (including one for Alicia Myers, who apparently performed at no cost to the city) from every performer and vendor.”

Administration and the Council should not have treated that requests as if it were just another “only $20,000” and not respond to this date.