An Open Letter from Councilwoman Bielik - Dated 9/14/04

RE: City Council Meeting 9/13/04

What a wonderful country we live in! As I sat at the NRH City Council meeting last night, I kept remembering all the countries where no one is allowed to have an opinion. Our country is different. I hope our city is different, too.

I know there were people sitting on the Council last night that would have liked me to be quiet. My opinions don’t match theirs on some subjects. Thankfully for all of us, we don’t have to agree on everything. Thankfully, we can agree to disagree.

The thoughts and opinions expressed last night were reached with much research into the subjects I spoke of. Whether the subject was the RV Ordinances, the budget, or the rezoning of a piece of property, it was researched. Does that make my opinion the only right one? No. It only makes it my opinion.

I respect the rights of the remaining Council Members to have their opinions, too. I did not at any time speak down to them or attempt to ridicule them. I did not refer to them as "the people to my left." I called them by name. Perhaps someday they will show me the same respect. In fact, with my last name being hard to pronounce, I would be happy if they would just call me "Nancy." I can even live with being called "Councilman Nancy" if that so suits them.

The citizens of our city are a varied lot of people. We have young families, senior citizens, low and upper income families. We have business owners and blue collar workers. All deserve to have the same representation from the Council they elected. They deserve to have their phone calls returned, their problems listened to, and any appropriate help we can give.

While I cannot do everything for everyone, I will do what I can to help. In the few months since I was elected, I have been asked to find social services, help with building permits, interpret Ordinances, and other assorted tasks. Every Council member receives requests like this, and we all do what we can to solve the problems we can. To me, a request from a citizen lets me know we are considered to be problem solvers.

To the citizens of North Richland Hills, I say thank you. Thank you for caring what happens in your city, for voting, for voicing your opinions. To the other members of the Council I would like to say: we can get along, and we will. We just have to agree to disagree while respecting each other in the process.

Nancy Bielik

NRH City Council