Read this, and compare it to the Medford Transcript
* Questionable Performance by the City Council and Members of the Audience:
August 14th, 2018, Tuesday, meeting of the Medford City Council.
August 14th, 2018, Tuesday, meeting of the Medford City Council.
Watching the replay of the city council meeting, due to a blackout the night of the meeting (not a surprise), I had to ask myself several times…just why it is we have
a city council? Or, better yet, where did they all disappear to this night? I thought the council was sworn to be representative of all the citizens in Medford. They
failed miserably!
I can’t help but say that the council exhibited a true lack of mettle on the issue of a banner affixed to a building which houses the VFW. For those of you on the
council and in the audience unaware what the letters VFW represents (it seemed as though most in the audience have no clue) it proudly announces “the members here
are Veterans of Foreign Wars”. They are the men and women who signed and continue to sign that blank check for theirs and our country; they are the men and women who left their homes without hesitation, (some as young as 15 in WWII)
their families, friends, jobs and their security, to travel thousands of miles away to engage an enemy in hostile territory, to fight for our freedom, to keep us safe from
enemy invasions, to guarantee and preserve freedom for all of us and all future generations. They asked no questions. Hell, they just went!
are Veterans of Foreign Wars”. They are the men and women who signed and continue to sign that blank check for theirs and our country; they are the men and women who left their homes without hesitation, (some as young as 15 in WWII)
their families, friends, jobs and their security, to travel thousands of miles away to engage an enemy in hostile territory, to fight for our freedom, to keep us safe from
enemy invasions, to guarantee and preserve freedom for all of us and all future generations. They asked no questions. Hell, they just went!
And, sadly, many did not return and many of those who returned did so broken!
Their sacrifices made it possible for many of those at the council meeting that night to spew hatred against our public safety officers and our military veterans
and active military personnel… free from any retribution; and damn, they certainly did abuse it! Showtime at the Apollo!
and active military personnel… free from any retribution; and damn, they certainly did abuse it! Showtime at the Apollo!
So, what is it exactly that this banner states that got a group of progressive liberal socialist bullies in an uproar? Yes, you have the right to say and believe what you want; I am just calling your group out as I see you and how you portray yourselves.
This is my right, my belief and my opinion!
The banner simply states a fact…it states…ALL LIVES MATTER.
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The message on the banner unequivocally declares truth! And, if any group has a right to declare this… without question… it’s the members and families of the
VFW and all human beings, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, beliefs or social status. It is not racist, it is not exclusionary, it is not a rebuke to any other group or
that group’s moniker…it is a fact! You can twist it any way you like; however, you say it is a rebuke because you are told to believe such.
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The message on the banner unequivocally declares truth! And, if any group has a right to declare this… without question… it’s the members and families of the
VFW and all human beings, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, beliefs or social status. It is not racist, it is not exclusionary, it is not a rebuke to any other group or
that group’s moniker…it is a fact! You can twist it any way you like; however, you say it is a rebuke because you are told to believe such.
A motion was brought before the Medford City Council by councilor John Falco, asking that they review voting precinct sites in the city to “make voting more
accessible” to the citizens. Really councilor Falco?! You want to stick with this?
Did any one of the seven of you take into consideration the number of people in the 8-2 ward who would be impacted by your decision? How many of those initiating this change live in the 8-2 ward and actually vote at the current location as compared to the entire ward? Did it occur to you that this is a de facto suppression of the vote, coming at this late date in the election season, and
situating it at a location more difficult to reach for many residents of South Medford?
situating it at a location more difficult to reach for many residents of South Medford?
Question, should the director of human diversity, an employee of the city, ostensibly representing the entire city, have been allowed to lend his support to one
side of this issue and work for its outcome? Is not the attempt to abrogate the right of free speech of members of the VFW, by demanding they remove their banner, a
human rights and free speech issue? My questions don't require answers. You, as a body, answered all of them by your actions that evening.
Your silence was deafening. Your spurious attempts to curry favor with a group known for bullying those with different opinions than theirs, a group known for promulgating fallacious facts and a group that embraces hate camouflaged as free speech and civil rights was incredibly void of integrity, truthfulness and honesty.
Your motion, Councilor Falco, was camouflaged; the true purpose of the motion was to give a group of activists an audience for their attempt to force the VFW to
take down the “All Lives Matter” banner.
take down the “All Lives Matter” banner.
Councilor Falco, were you not urged by the council body before the meeting to hold off until after the primary due to it being so close to Election Day?
Was this not a calculated move on your part with your impending election to
Council President to gain favor with Medford progressives?
Council President to gain favor with Medford progressives?
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Let me remind you Councilor Falco, when you were elected, you took an oath to
serve and represent all constituents equally, objectively and with integrity. You
took the oath! What happened? You failed!
serve and represent all constituents equally, objectively and with integrity. You
took the oath! What happened? You failed!
With the rumor currently sweeping the city of a major change in the corner office
by January, I repeat it’s just a rumor; it certainly makes sense that if you are
council president and the corner office becomes vacant, as the strong rumor states,
you become acting mayor until a special election is held. This move, this night was
certainly intentional and self-aggrandizing on your behalf.
In a grandstand attempt to appease the progressive crowd which had assembled in
the chambers, you, councilor Falco brought the motion to the floor. The council
was speechless; now what do they do? It certainly seems that you all were afraid
of losing favor and votes with the progressive group in Medford.
the chambers, you, councilor Falco brought the motion to the floor. The council
was speechless; now what do they do? It certainly seems that you all were afraid
of losing favor and votes with the progressive group in Medford.
A hostile, screaming crowd, idiotic applause, evasive statements, misrepresentation
of facts, threats of physical violence to those who oppose taking the sign down
(isn’t that right Miss Risley?!), councilors afraid to debate the true merits of this
furtive motion, afraid that if they rattle the cages of the progressive sect attending
the meeting, that the possibility of losing votes and their elected position and the
$30,000 salary that goes along with the position (for doing what, exactly?) is a real
and feared outcome…Oh my, what’s a councilor to do? Well, they quivered and
then capitulated to a baseless argument. They caved. How shameful…for $30,000
a year we get this kind of performance!?
of facts, threats of physical violence to those who oppose taking the sign down
(isn’t that right Miss Risley?!), councilors afraid to debate the true merits of this
furtive motion, afraid that if they rattle the cages of the progressive sect attending
the meeting, that the possibility of losing votes and their elected position and the
$30,000 salary that goes along with the position (for doing what, exactly?) is a real
and feared outcome…Oh my, what’s a councilor to do? Well, they quivered and
then capitulated to a baseless argument. They caved. How shameful…for $30,000
a year we get this kind of performance!?
And, Councilor Adam Knight, would you please explain how you arrived at the
conclusion causing you to adamantly exclaim several times that the “sign is racist”.
Please, enlighten me! You knew that the meeting was not being televised; what
you may or may not have realized was that it was being taped and there would be a
replay. Did you think you were home free! Have you spoken with your supporters
yet and explained, or better yet, tried to untangle your unalterable statement?
conclusion causing you to adamantly exclaim several times that the “sign is racist”.
Please, enlighten me! You knew that the meeting was not being televised; what
you may or may not have realized was that it was being taped and there would be a
replay. Did you think you were home free! Have you spoken with your supporters
yet and explained, or better yet, tried to untangle your unalterable statement?
Councilor Falco, would you care to enlighten the public as how you also arrived at
the same conclusion as councilor Knight? Anyone of you? Crickets!
Council President Caraviello, why did you not gavel Lisa “Ris” Risley out of order
when she made false, derogatory and threatening accusations against several of
Medford’s police officers pertaining to a non-incident last year during a celebration
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the same conclusion as councilor Knight? Anyone of you? Crickets!
Council President Caraviello, why did you not gavel Lisa “Ris” Risley out of order
when she made false, derogatory and threatening accusations against several of
Medford’s police officers pertaining to a non-incident last year during a celebration
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in one of our squares? She was way out of line and should have been told to sit
down. Her theatrics were an embarrassment to legitimate thespians!
Council President, why did you not gavel those in the audience who taunted racist
remarks of “white privilege” and applauded loudly to denounce the white race??
By the way, are those bodies under the white crosses in France and the Arlington
National Cemetery guilty of white privilege? No, they are most certainly not!
There is every conceivable nationality, race, religion, creed and ethnicity buried
under the crosses so you people can do what you’re doing without fear of
persecution.
down. Her theatrics were an embarrassment to legitimate thespians!
Council President, why did you not gavel those in the audience who taunted racist
remarks of “white privilege” and applauded loudly to denounce the white race??
By the way, are those bodies under the white crosses in France and the Arlington
National Cemetery guilty of white privilege? No, they are most certainly not!
There is every conceivable nationality, race, religion, creed and ethnicity buried
under the crosses so you people can do what you’re doing without fear of
persecution.
Racist remarks that the council was “all white” and lacked people of color and
women had no place at city hall that night.
women had no place at city hall that night.
Grown men getting up and stating how a sign made them physically ill when they
drove by on a bus and saw the “All Lives Matter” sign. How they are offended and
intimidated by the sign. Seriously?
drove by on a bus and saw the “All Lives Matter” sign. How they are offended and
intimidated by the sign. Seriously?
Rachel Tanenhaus, stating that she is horrified when she goes there and sees the
sign.
sign.
A banner making you physically ill? Please. What is wrong with you people?
And to you, Zane Crute, NAACP President, your statement was completely
irresponsible, out of context and could possibly lend itself to being inflammatory.
It is you who turns a blind eye to the epidemic of brutality. Police brutality?? You
refuse to attack the problem of violence in the inner city and blame it on the police.
irresponsible, out of context and could possibly lend itself to being inflammatory.
It is you who turns a blind eye to the epidemic of brutality. Police brutality?? You
refuse to attack the problem of violence in the inner city and blame it on the police.
Do your homework, check the facts then make your statement!
I would, however, posit this to all of you on the council. What will you do when
you are asked to endorse a resolution allowing those residing illegally in our city to
vote in our local elections? What will your response be when you are asked to
endorse a resolution officially declaring Medford a sanctuary city? What will you
do when you are asked to remove the Royall from the Royall House or the Tufts
from Tufts University or the Brooks from the Brooks Estate? Slave owners all.
you are asked to endorse a resolution allowing those residing illegally in our city to
vote in our local elections? What will your response be when you are asked to
endorse a resolution officially declaring Medford a sanctuary city? What will you
do when you are asked to remove the Royall from the Royall House or the Tufts
from Tufts University or the Brooks from the Brooks Estate? Slave owners all.
These issues will assuredly be raised given the current atmosphere in the city as well as the country. You've opened the door wide and cannot hide behind it.
Where will each of you draw the line? Will it be at political correctness and vote preservation, or will it be at the rule of law and in the interests of all of the people
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of our fair city? After Tuesday evening, I fear I know the answer. I do think all of
the citizens of Medford should know where each of you stands, if, in fact, you can!
Fifty or so people controlling the council in a city of 56,000 plus?! WOW!
One last question… how many of you councilors will have the unmitigated gall to
attend the Memorial Day Ceremony after you threw the veterans under the bus?
We will be watching! It’s way overdue for a clean sweep of the city council!
Where will each of you draw the line? Will it be at political correctness and vote preservation, or will it be at the rule of law and in the interests of all of the people
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of our fair city? After Tuesday evening, I fear I know the answer. I do think all of
the citizens of Medford should know where each of you stands, if, in fact, you can!
Fifty or so people controlling the council in a city of 56,000 plus?! WOW!
One last question… how many of you councilors will have the unmitigated gall to
attend the Memorial Day Ceremony after you threw the veterans under the bus?
We will be watching! It’s way overdue for a clean sweep of the city council!
Anthony D’Antonio
Yale Street, Medford