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August 28, 2008 Opinions |
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—Editorial—
Stop The Polka Dot Polka — Enough Is Enough
When Baker City Councilor Beverly Calder painted large polka dots on the sidewalk in front of her business this summer, Bella Main Street Market, she initiated a marketing campaign which she said she hoped would make people smile. The colorful dots did make a lot of people smile, but they also brought a lot of frowns from those who thought she was in violation of a city ordinance relating to painting on sidewalks.
A flurry of emails were exchanged by City Councilors, City Manager Steve Brocato and Mayor Jeff Petry over this issue including one from Brocato stating that the City had received complaints about pricing advertising being painted on the sidewalks in front of Calder’s business, which included accusations that a city councilor was being unfairly exempted from the laws that everyone else has to follow. Brocato said it was illegal to deface a sidewalk (ordinance 2893) and that he had conferred with the City Attorney on this law.
Last week at the urging of a concerned citizen we talked to Baker City Attorney Dan Van Thiel who said he had never been asked for his opinion on ordinance 2893. We felt that if there were any dishonest statements being made by city officials that the public should know about it and we were gearing up for an article based on Van Thiel’s statement and Brocato’s email.
But then, what at first seemed like a clear issue, got a little muddy. Brocato produced an invoice that showed Van Thiel had billed the city for a 1/8-hour tele conference on July 18 “re sidewalk ordinance.” We decided to put the story on hold until we talked to Van Thiel again.
We were unable to reach Van Thiel before we went to press so we killed the article last week opting to find out more details before sharing this information with the public. When we did reach him, Van Thiel stood by his original comments, which were that he had not been asked about the dots, never gave an opinion on them and that he hasn’t read ordinance 2893. But he did verify the invoice and said that on July 18 there was some brief discussion about the sidewalk ordinance, he didn’t remember the details, but he was fairly certain that nothing was brought up in the conversation, which related specifically to the dots. He did say however, if any City calls him, he is the City Attorney for Seaside and Astoria also, and asks whether or not a city ordinance is enforceable his answer is always “yes.”
Brocato later confirmed that he did not ask the City Attorney for a review of the dots issue, he asked about enforceability of the ordinance during their brief tele conference. This also backs up Brocato’s initial email exchange July 18 with City Councilors where he said, “In the ordinance, it is illegal to deface a sidewalk (ordinance 2893, section 6). I have conferred with the city attorney on the application of the law.” At no point did he say he had conferred with the city attorney as to whether Calder was in violation of the ordinance because of her dots.
So at the conclusion of our research what we wound up with is an article about how Brocato, while discussing sidewalk ordinance violations involving Calder in an email to Councilors, said he conferred with the city attorney of the application of the law (ordinance), and a City Attorney who says he remembers briefly discussing the sidewalk ordinance, but has no recollection of the dots being raised, but yes the ordinance is enforceable.
Splitting dots (hairs)? Maybe, but frankly when we put it all together, minus the accusations that couldn’t be proven to our satisfaction, it boiled down to about two paragraphs and we didn’t see much of a story here any more. Brocato’s statement might not have been crystal clear as to what he was referring to and Van Thiel’s memory may have been a little sketchy since the conversation happened over a month ago, but intentionally dishonest – we see no proof of that.
The bigger issue, we feel, is why was this situation never addressed to begin with? In Brocato’s original email to Councilors he said, “I ask for direction from a collective Council on how to proceed: enforce the law by issuing a citation and turning this issue over to the City Attorney; or suggest to Council that we change the law to accommodate painting on the sidewalks.”
In a follow up email July 27 to Mayor Petry we asked if they had reached a decision on what to do about this sidewalk issue. He responded, “The short answer is no. On 7/18/08, in my email to Staff and Council, I stated: ‘If this conduct continues, I will ask Council to set this matter as an agenda item for discussion.’"
We witnessed a lot of complaining about the dots as well as unfounded accusations on both sides of the issue via the email exchanges, but we didn’t see it on the agenda, and we didn’t see a constructive reply addressing Brocato’s request for direction. Yes, the paint has been removed and people are once again free to roam the sidewalks of Baker City without being accosted by dots, but after almost six weeks, the hullabaloo continues — why?
There are valid points on both sides of the “dots.” It does appear that Calder has been in the limelight as far as getting more than her share of citations/warnings for violating city ordinances, but whether or not they were justified, we don’t know. We leave that up to the courts to decide. What we do want to know is: what is the City and Council going to do to resolve the dots issue and put it to rest? The “conduct” has ceased, no citation was given, and at least three of the Councilors have said enough is enough and they don’t want any further discussion on this topic. But obviously this issue itself hasn’t been resolved because we are still seeing emails accusing one councilor of pre-election politics, accusing city officials of lying and city charter violations on both sides of the issue.
Whether it’s a simple matter of shaking hands and agreeing to disagree, or something more involved like changing the wording of ordinances to make them more understandable, something needs to be done. Or as some suggest, have the Council meet with the City Attorney to hash it out once and for all.
What will it take to resolve this? Do we need to hire a conflict facilitator to mediate a formal dots hearing?
This kind of publicity can’t be good for our community. If we can’t bring some kind of resolution to the issue of painting dots on the sidewalk how are we going to handle something really important like how to help the homeless, uninsured or unemployed in our community.
It’s good to question people in government and healthy in a democratic society, and it’s good to have newspapers with the freedom to inform the public. But when it gets to the point where bickering over sidewalk dots is front page news for several weeks, something needs to change. How many different ways can the dots and ordinances governing them be interpreted and how many he said, she said battles can we get into before enough really is enough?
Some say it’s not really about the dots — the issue is much deeper than that. If that’s the case then the Council needs to get a collective shovel and start digging the real issue out, until then — besides unconstructive accusations — all we have to go on is polka dots and they just need to be buried.
—Letters—
Make A Choice, God Or Man
To The Record-Courier:
Sorry to say, there is an old fable in the world and in the Christian world also that Christianity and politics don’t mix. I have to hotly disagree! As a believer in the Lord it does not in any way excuse me or you from being political! I am and so are you who name Jesus as Lord still a citizen of this world until Jesus takes us out!
I watched the debate from the “Saddle Back” Church in California between McCain and Obama. I do not agree with McCain on everything, but believe he was much more honest then Obama. In fact I know he was! If you call yourself a Christian as they both do, then your view should be the same as expressed by the Word of God, who you say you believe in. Question on same sex marriage, abortion, and any other question you may be asked, including the Constitution of the United States. This is what the whole foundation of this country is based on.
McCain’s answers were Biblical, Obama’s were political. Obama made me feel he is a liar, afraid of his own party or he reads a different Bible then I do. So what am I saying? Don’t call yourself a Christian being a politician, a pastor, or lay person if your beliefs are different or vary from what God has said in His Word. Hold fast to the Word, it’s the only truth in today’s world! Obama gave his or his party’s opinion, not God’s on ALL these questions.
The Bible says life begins at conception in the mother’s womb. Read Psalms 1:39. The Bible is also very clear on marriage. It’s between a man and a woman. In no other way does God recognize or bless this union. In the garden it was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve! Read the marriage scriptures from Genesis all the way through the New Testament.
The Constitution’s Second Amendment was written to protect the people from an evil government, not the government from the people. Obama plans to destroy the second Amendment so the people have no more self protection. We are in hard times, but when the Democratic party wants my rights as a citizen of a free country and begins to look more like a Socialism party, which holds hands with Communism, it worries me a great deal, should worry you also!
It’s time for the truth that matters. God loves the gays as much as anyone else, but they MUST ACCEPT the truth and ACT on it. Woman who have had an abortion, God still loves you and will forgive if you will ask! The Church, the Body of Christ seems to still be not seeing that most needing Jesus are on the outside of the walls. God warned us about being luke warm as many still are. There are over 4,000 people dead in one hour of time. Which way did they go, and where were we?
Richard Fox
Baker City
Thank You For The Support
To The Record-Courier:
The Baker County Fair and Panhandle Rodeo Court extend a huge thank you to Baker County businesses. There were well over 150 businesses that welcomed us with either renewing their ad or were glad to put a new ad in the Panhandle Rodeo program. Union County also stepped in with contributions to their neighboring County. We had fun meeting everyone and saying hello to many familiar faces.
We also extend our thanks to the Pine Valley Fair Association whom helped us get an excellent start with our clothing, and George and Opal Matile, Halfway, who generously provided funding for our chaps. Jason and Laurie VanTassel were very helpful with super ideas to get us started in chap design, and we were extremely fortunate that Greg Gomersall, New Plymouth, Idaho, and Rex Beck, Keating, made the chaps high priority in their work.
Lisa Shira, owner of both The Last Resort Salon and Smartie Pants Parties, and Blue Mountain Design, we thank you for the absolutely beautiful flower arrangements and the serape embroidery, respectively. Our horses look dashing.
And a thank you goes to Elkhorn Boot & Shoe Repair for adding the final detail; grommets. Additionally, Pine Valley Interior who completed one serape along with Quilts Plus adding the grommets, we thank you.
John and Mary Jo Binford, Halfway, provided the funding for the Queen’s breast collar and Rex Beck again made time to make it. Shane Pierce with Roper added all the fun extra clothing. Del’s Feed & Farm Supply were very generous with their gift certificates to each of us, which provided for some fun “shopping.” D&B along with Del’s added another gift certificate that provided supplies to keep our horses looking super. Thank you, all.
VFW will graciously open their doors for us to host our luncheon for people on the go.
Many people that attend the Queen’s luncheon are also those that are incredibly busy making the Fair happen. Therefore along with Subway, Baker City, providing sandwiches and Albertson’s filling in around with the extras, our luncheon fits us all perfectly, thank you. And off to the parade we go!
And two very important people; Steve Backstrom, Hells Canyon Journal, is an incredible photographer. His time and effort taking the Court pictures (thank you Pine Valley Ranch for your barn as our back drop) are very much appreciated along with time spent with the Rodeo Program. Melody Huff, our Court advisor, has given us all the rope possible over this past year. When we would check in with her, her response was often, “have you thought about.” We thank you both very much.
Baker County Fair
Panhandle Rodeo Court, Halfway
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