Many who attack the council are unprincipled

Many who attack the council are unprincipled

The past few weeks have seen a fusillade unleashed at three city council members (the "majority" we are told). Only this one is about a purported act "against" an individual.

I know many of you who have written, either as an acquaintance or through your correspondence. I doubt there are any exceptions to the statement that we all are, really, very homogeneous in this community vis-à-vis our beautiful and very well proctored environs.

We all feel very much the same way. Oh, we have a few "beefs" here and there.

Most of us keep our heads to the news grindstone, don’t we? But truly, this city is very well tended by both our volunteer and hard-working council and by a very professional cadre of city employees.

Sometimes, though, our trust is violated. Settlements are crafted to keep certain or all facts from being known. It’s a truth that settlements benefit both parties.

Readers: Do any of you know any of the settlement details or other hard facts?

For the life of me, I’ve tried to discern what the council—at least three of them—have done to incur such ire (albeit from a small number of residents). Considering the numerous violations of ethics and principles recently in the broad business world (without excluding political, employee, religious, environmental and other organizations), are any of you accusers guilty of lowering your ethics? For the sake of a perceived end that, in your mind, justifies uncivil means?

If you truly believe in what you’re saying and doing, then I don’t believe you’re lowering your principles. But it’s unprincipled to accuse and to slander without proper foundation. Thus, if your ethics are crowd ethics, you’re only part of the flock, a follower with none.

What I’d like to hear, folks, are some specifics. If you just think the majority committed a wrong, then say it that way. But keep your mind open. If you have more than opinion, convince the rest of us.

For myself, I am contrite for my apparent lack of knowledge. I am willing to be informed. We all deserve to hear the truth if it’s out there and someone knows, and can say, what it is.

Otherwise, everything is speculation. And usually someone has something to be gained by starting the rumor, don’t they?

If you disagree, fine. But do it with civility and respect. We all deserve that––at least those of us who are principled.

Jack Tucker

Thousand Oaks