2004-04-26 Regular Meeting, Public Hearing, and Workshop Meeting

Browse Search

''1 5-10-04 council- Re~nse to Cummings letter to the Edi ,,~~ The April 18 Bayshore Sun published a letter written by your City Supervising Engineer, Robert Cummings, inspite of the facts that his letter was published just a few days after I publicly presented facts that were very critical of the City, and that I've publicly exposed facts that were very critical of the way Mr. Cummings department handled the City's fill dirt policy, and that he pins his target down in his letter to someone involved in the Bayshore area, and that the majority of his letter revolves around this subject, Mr. Cummings claims I am not his target and that he has no intended target. If he has no intended target, then why did he write the letter? I think the facts prove Mr. Cummings claim is false. Regardless of who his target is, his written attack on citizens needs to be exposed for what it is, so I'll do it. In his letter, he claims the Bayshore Sun refuses to be the posting board for citizens who desire to engage in character assassination of their fellow Americans. And he claims that the Bayshore Sun seems to be adept at recognizing malcontents and correctly dismissing their hate-filled babble as the mutterings of someone not conducive to the betterment of the Bayshore area. He claims that chief among the Bayshore Sun's admirable qualities is it's refusal to engage in personal attacks [on] local municipal staff or citizens. But, wait a minute, the Bayshore Sun just printed his personal attack on other citizens. Now doesn't make Mr. Cummings claim completely false. . , And have you noticed that Mr. Cummings is doing exactly what he is accusing other people of doing, such as character assassination, personal attacks, etc. Now doesn't that make him a huge hypocrite as well. Mr. Cummings claims nothing but the facts are ever presented [in the Bayshore Sun] but when you read the letter, you'll notice that Mr. Cummings does not supply a single fact to back up his accusations, and the Bayshore Sun printed his fetter. That again makes his claim completely false, doesn't it? Mr. Cummings claims to have noticed the Bayshore Sun will not print material if the facts cannot be substantiated or the exposure of such facts would hurt the City of La Porte or foster feelings of hatred. I have a simple question that proves this claim is false. Now how would he know what has been cut out and what has been substantiated unless he was the editor? And did you notice that he is openly proud of what he claims is the Bayshore Sun's elimination of any facts, that in the opinion of those in control, could hurt the City. thought that manipulation of the facts only occurred in dictatorships and banana republics. I strongly believe in open, democratic government, so this elimination of unpleasant facts that Mr. Cummings is so proud of, is actually corrupt, and crooked,. and repulsive, to me. Mr. Cummings has tried to say his letter of accusations is a personal matter and not City related. Yet Mr. Cummings lives in another City. He works for the City of La Porte. I think the facts prove this is a City matter and not a personal matter. And I think severe disciplinary action is in order, Council. And I have a comment regarding the Bayshore Sun's part in this. The Bayshore Sun's written letter Policy states it will not print attacks on a third party and libel will be omitted from letters;... but it printed Mr. Cummings letter. Thank you for your time and consideration, Bill Scott