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We should all agree that having the fountains come on during the mayor’s campaign event was unfortunate. She and her supporters deserved to enjoy the moment. Once a decision was made to turn off the fountains, steps should have been taken to ensure that the event went forward without mishap.
We should also acknowledge that the incident raises important questions about the use of city facilities for campaign purposes. Prudent people should want to get answers to many questions and not rush to judgment.
Unfortunately, instead of waiting for a full airing of the facts, Mr. Jordan pounced on the city manager. The words and tone of his posting last week on Rockville Patch were impolite and accusatory. He characterized the city manager's actions as “one of the most bizarre and arrogant abuses of authority,” an “outrageous act,” and an “insult,” and said that people were “treated with no regard for their safety and well-being.”
These are harsh words, laden with the implication that the city manager attempted to sabotage the mayor’s campaign event. No fair person would reach such a conclusion, just as no fair person would conclude that the mayor tried to circumvent the rules against using city facilities for a campaign event. The mayor and city manager are both honorable people. My guess is that both sides made mistakes. Wouldn’t it be smart to cool it until we know the facts?
But that’s not Mr. Jordan’s M.O. He’s quick to attack, particularly when he has the city manager in his sights. I'm reminded of the spurious accusation made last January that the city manager had maligned Mr. Jordan in an email about the distribution of the National Golf Foundation study of RedGate. What transpired subsequently was particularly shameful.
“Did I feel maligned?” asked Mr. Jordan at Citizens Forum on January 24. “Indeed, it was one of the first words that came to my mind, along with impugned, insulted, hurt, and disappointed.”
Wow! Those were his first thoughts? How about “Let’s not make a mountain out of a mole hill?” Or, “Let’s not read much into this?” Or something more sensible like, “I wonder if it’s going to rain or snow today?”
I know that some people accept these kinds of attacks when launched against elected officials or other residents. Personally, I think they deter honorable people from participating in the political process and impede understanding of the issues. I prefer facts and substance. But as a private citizen, I at least can fight back when Mr. Jordan files a Freedom of Information Act request for all emails between city staff and me in a crude attempt to quiet my criticism of wasting taxpayers’ money on the golf course. I know a little something about how to handle bullies.
In contrast, city employees can’t fight back, not if they want to keep their jobs. This is a secret to no one, except apparently Mr. Jordan. He opened his remarks on January 24 by asking, “Has the city staff become such shrinking violets that, if ... they were constantly being bashed, they wouldn’t speak up?”
Is he kidding? City employees are defenseless against these kinds of attacks, unless we as a community stand up and say “stop it.”
Instead of using this unfortunate circumstance to stir up trouble, wouldn’t it make more sense to try to make something good out of it? We have no-fault auto insurance and no-fault divorce. Let’s have a no-fault investigation of the facts surrounding this event. Give three respected folks from the city a couple of weeks to interview those who were involved. They would not report the details of who said what or make any assessment about who was at fault. Instead, based on the responses to their questions, they would just recommend changes to current policies for the consideration of the mayor and council. I already posted 13 questions on Rockville Central that might be useful in this regard.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jordan, quit beating up on city employees. Stop it!
Jim Coyle
3:09 pm on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
I agree with the sentiment that Art's suggest. Everywhere today, not just Rockville, people want to blame government officials for everything. Where are all those who call for personal responsibility and accountability.
Taking shots a government workers is a cowards approach to solving community problems.
Piotr Gajewski
9:29 pm on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Art,
I agree with you that bashing Rockville staff is unacceptable. If one must pick a fight, please bash the elected officials. We are the ones responsible and the buck stops with us.
On the issue at hand, I would like to suggest that we look forward, not back.
At last Monday’s meeting of the Mayor and Council I asked, with support from Councilmember Pierzchala, that we place on our agenda a staff report on policy for City facilities use by politicians. Anecdotes abound about politicians being turned away from renting City facilities for political events. At the same time, there are examples of politicians receiving free use of City facilities (the Mayor’s event on June 10 is just one such event). Clearly, whatever policy is in place, or its enforcement, needs review.
Piotr Gajewski
9:30 pm on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
For my part, I would suggest that we might consider modeling Rockville’s policy on the County policy. On June 11, my campaign for mayor held a kick off event at the Rockville Memorial Library (a County facility). We rented a room, which I understand can be rented by anyone or any group for any legal purpose. This policy makes good sense, as the government is in no position to try to referee what uses might be appropriate and what other uses might no be (indeed trying to make value judgment about what use is or is not appropriate will likely very quickly run afoul of state or even federal law).
Charging for the facility (and doing so without regard to the identity of the renter) also makes good sense (again, it could well be unlawful to do otherwise). Note, however, that if the government requires the use of its own facility for the purpose of conducting its own business, no rent issue comes into play (for example if a County Council member wanted to use the room that my campaign rented, in order to meet with constituents to discuss issues before the County Council, this is not a rental situation). .
Finally, the City Hall facilities are not available for rental to anyone. Political activity at City Hall is always inappropriate. However, governing activity by elected officials, which necessarily includes meetings with constituents, is always appropriate.
I am hopeful that the Mayor and Council can sort this out at our July 18 meeting.
Joe
10:10 am on Thursday, June 23, 2011
Ms. Blalock, I respectfully ask that you have your comment removed from this article. I have never attended a WECA meeting...never. Additionally, I have never spoken a word with you, having only seen you from afar at council meetings, and recently at Mr. Gajewski's kickoff...at least I think it was you. When criticism turns to lies and false accusations, things have gone too far. You obviously don't know who I am and have me confused with someone else. If you don't take action immediately, I will consider taking another approach.
Thank you
Theresa Defino
11:46 am on Thursday, June 23, 2011
@Joe, how thin-skinned you are. I know who you are and saw you at the meeting Tempe mentions and she told me what you said. You can't go demanding people have comments "removed," as you no doubt found out when you tried this tack with a FB group. Tempe's comment contained no specifics and you would never be able to sue her, so please don't make these threats. It's so unbecoming of a man who heads a city advisory commitee, tho many of us have called for your removal.
Among the reasons are your FOIA project to discredit and silence both Art and I, as I note that you requested emails on both Art and I. I already commented on your apology post.
http://rockville.patch.com/articles/city-manager-should-apologize-for-fountain-incident
To the broader topic of this post,..it's not just Joe, and its not just the city manager who've borne the brunt of these attacks. Various citizens feel it is OK to publicly attack city staffers at city council meetings as well as association gatherings. They show particular contempt and disrespect for the city's planning staff, relentless accusing them of "favoring developers" over citizens and seeing conspiracies where there are none. They don't accept that zoning laws matter. All city attempts--at their behest--to increase communication has also been deemed inadequate. It's also no secret that the current mayor and Councilmember Newton have contentious relationships with many city staffers. Folks, it's time for change!
Doug Tallman
2:10 pm on Thursday, June 23, 2011
Folks --
Rockville's election promises to be a spirited referendum on the future of the city, and we at Patch are looking forward to be a forum for the issues. But we also have limits to what we'll allow to appear on our site. We have published our Terms of Use, to which you agreed before you posted your first comment, that insist these conversations be free of defamatory or abusive language. The terms also insist that comments are not inaccurate or false.
Some of the comments on this thread, I believe, are steering the debate away from the issues and into personalities. We can and will delete comments that violate our Terms.
doug
Doug in Rockville
7:07 pm on Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thank you Mr. Stigile, for a thoughtful and balanced point of view. Although I am in the camp that hasn't always been impressed with the City Manager, I accept and respect that he and his staff most likely didn't intend for things to happen as they did, and I certainly can't imagine them intending any sabotage of the event.
We are first and foremost a community, and that comes with caring and respect for one another. I appreciate that we in Rockville can talk about the issues our communities and our city as friends and neighbors even if we disagree--and that disagreeement should never be taken personally even in the throes of passionate expression. As such, I also appreciate Mr. Tallmans' note.
I very much look forward to hearing what the candidates for Mayor and Council will have to say in the coming months. Thanks again for the well-put sentiments.
Brigitta Mullican
9:58 am on Monday, October 17, 2011
Doug, Have you watched or listened to the first Rockville City Council Candidates' Forum which was televised on October 13? There are a least 6 more forums where the Rockville voters may judge the candidates' character and leadership styles.
I look forward to hearing your comments on the first city council candidates' forum.
http://rockville.patch.com/articles/candidates-get-candid-at-first-forum#youtube_video-8111230
Doug in Rockville
6:04 pm on Monday, October 17, 2011
Hi again Brigitta.
Yes, in fact I was in attendance at the forum. I thought it was very well done and very well moderated. The only thing I didn't like was that each candidate was asked a question, but other candidates generally were not asked the same question, so it left me a little short in comparing responses.
I have made a few decisions on who I will support, but I still have questions for some about the seeming over-concentration on the APFO, and what I consider an under-concentration on the Rockville Pike Plan. I support both. But I want to see affordable housing projects exempted from the APFO in a reasonable way, and I want those criticizing the Pike Plan to explain how a planning document is going to "stick taxpayers" with the infrastructure bill? The Pike Plan as a planning document says little to nothing about how projects are financed--that is the discussion we would be having when development projects are proposed. I am concerned the Town has invested money and RESIDENT INPUT into this plan, and it appears to be getting "torpedo'd" by some who don't really seem to have READ the plan, or understand how it overall fits into the planning & development process....
just my 2 cents so far....