Tony's Pony?
Here is a
call to action from Councilor Tony Palomba. It isn’t getting maximum circulation
because, so far, he has shared it on certain social media sites, while electing
not to share it on others. So, you are likely reading this on a Facebook site
that he decided to skip.
Here goes:
“Time
sensitive request! The Public Works Subcommittee of the City Council has
scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, 4/18 at 7:00 PM to consider Pigsgusset
Initiative’s petition to change the name of the Columbus Delta. While many have
signed the petition, sent numerous letters to the entire City Council and have
testified at the full Council hearing in June (2022), we have been asked to
send more letters in advance of this next hearing.”
I need to
pause right here. The underlining of the last sentence is mine. It begs the
question: Who is the “we” that he is referring to? Have members of the City
Council asked to have more letters sent to themselves?
Or does that
“we” refer to one of Tony’s non-government leadership positions, such as his board
of directors position at Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the
Environment, which just happens to be the principal sponsor, if not the actual creator,
of the petition to rename the Columbus Delta?
Tony’s call
to action continues:
“Here is
a template letter that people can use as is or adapt as you see fit. The email
addresses for the 3 Councilors who are members of the subcommittee. Please take
some time in the next few days to send your letter to these Council members.”
So, Tony’s
call to action includes a template letter to spare his minions the onerous
responsibility of thinking for themselves. So, what do you think? Does Tony’s
template letter invite its readers to express their own position on the
renaming of the delta? Yes, if they agree with him. You will see the template letter,
but the call to action continues:
“Also, if
you are able to join us for the 4/18 hearing, please do show up. If you're not
able to attend in person, there will also be virtual access. Here is a link
that will tell you how to access the meeting virtually.
Thank you
so much for your support of these efforts as we continue to work towards a
Watertown community that is inclusive and welcoming to all of the many people
who live here.”
So, in this
final paragraph, who exactly is the city councilor thanking, and what “efforts”
is he referring to? Obviously, it has nothing to do with his position as an
elected official. This is about a field marshal rallying his militia.
Now, let’s take
a look at the template letter. I will spare you my sentence-by-sentence
analysis, but I did underline some choice statements.
April 13,
2023
"Dear Public
Works Committee Chair Piccirilli,
I am writing
to you in support of changing the name of the Delta in Watertown Square. We
first wrote to the City Council about this in August 2020. The center of our
city is where hundreds of neighbors gather to make our voices heard about a
variety of issues. To some, the current name of the square and presence of
the Columbus monument is upsetting. While others feel strongly that the
name should stay the same, I ask: What side of history do you want to be on?
And what side of history do you want Watertown to be on? Nearly 500 years
after papal decrees were used to propel European colonial conquests, the
Vatican recently repudiated the “Doctrine of Discovery,” which Columbus used to
justify the slaughter of the Taino people. Is the public interest served by
keeping a name that offends some while failing to reflect our unique community
today?
In your
wisdom, you passed Watertown Council Resolution #85 in 2019, which states “The
Town Council shall have sole authority for the naming of Squares or
Intersections in the public right-of-way under the control of the Town of
Watertown.” Part A further states “the
Town Council understands that said naming may have long-lasting effects and
will span future generations whose perceptions and values might change.
Times have
changed. Italian-Americans are no longer persecuted as they were when they
first arrived in the United States. The discrimination and violence they
experienced is a stain on our country’s history. Thankfully, it is in the past.
Wouldn’t it be best to have the center of our city named for all the people who
live here now? And shouldn’t the monument, that belongs to a private religious
organization, be returned to them? It does not belong in our public square.
Thank you
for your consideration,"
Well, folks,
that’s the template letter, or should I call it what it actually is, “the
speech?”
Here’s my
question:
When a
citizen goes before their elected representatives to provide testimony on
issues that they care about, do they have the right to expect impartiality from
those representatives?
I happen to
be a realist. We can’t expect those representatives to check their opinions and
biases at the door, but I think we have the right to expect that they will be open-minded
judges of the testimonies they hear.
This
conflict of interest is not about legality. It’s about blurring the lines and
making it seem normal. It’s about ethics and perception. And it’s about trust.
Do you trust those whom you elect to represent you? Because if you don’t, then
you don’t trust your government. And that is a truly sad state of affairs if
you happen to believe in democracy.
COUNCILOR PALOMBA,
OUT OF RESPECT TO THE INSTITUTION
YOU SERVE,
RECUSE YOURSELF!
BECAUSE IT’S THE RIGHT THING
TO DO.
Bruce
Coltin, The Battle for Watertown
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