Imperious City Staff Publicly Bullies Two Gardens’ Residents
I’ve attended most City Council meetings in the last 7 or 8 years and watched any that I missed. Thursday night’s unseemly spectacle had staff showing what an avenging government can do to the ‘little people’- squash them like bugs. At the same time, staff displayed fear of those same residents. While tempted to walk out, I felt compelled to sit through the entire dog and pony show as Paula Magnuson and Kevin Easton were humiliated.
In February, the council asked City Manager Ferris to give the Council, for the next meeting, details on the code enforcement activities regarding the Easton properties over the last few years, plus a brief explanation of Ms. Magnuson’s issues. I know that I, along with the referenced parties, expected the subject to be presented in March – which didn’t happen. A brief explanation would have been short, outline key issues and resolutions and stop there.
Instead, the City Manager conducted a 35 minute trial with staff being the prosecutors arguing their cases. Lined up at a table were the City Engineer, Assistant City Manager Stepp, and Assistant City Attorney with additional input from Ferris and City Attorney Max Lohman. The City spent many hours pulling the history and presentation together. There were photographs, anecdotes, charts. And the ‘defendants’ were offered no opportunity for response. Watch the video here.
Surely what transpired was not what the Council requested or expected? The Council (Matthew Lane had to leave the meeting earlier in observation of Passover) did not stop the presentation – which they certainly could have done. A couple of the Council looked a bit uncomfortable but that was it. I would have been mortified. Perhaps Council was reluctant to admonish the City Manager and staff in public – but we, as horrified citizens, would hope that they do so.
In January I penned Whiffs of Aristocracy and Intimidation a New Trend for This Council. The Council and the City continue to create an environment where we, the residents and taxpayers, are to shut up and behave while they continue their mutual admiration society of perfection.
Thank you so much for standing up for us, I have a lot of presentations to negate all the untrue comments made about me. The chief basically defended a man with a big criminal history which i will present to the council as well as many letters of complaint to my association and criminal court action against him for vandalism on association property. I cannot thank you enough for your article! I am a strong patriot was a bit appalled by this vindictive act full of vitriol and makes me wonder what is really going on. I may contact judicial watch! Looks like our city council is getting railroaded and controlled as I know councilman lane would not condone this behavior, the chief made some inflammatory untrue comments, possibly slanderous. I will let the experts establish this. To think it all started with asking FOR A CROSSWALK FOR 4 DISABLED RESIDENTS!