Pat Them On the Back or Kick Them in the Seat
by Ron West
 
 Ken Sapp has great love for the old members of the NRH City Council and Mayor. He writes about "positive" positioning 
and then proceeds to zap whoever dares to suggest that the old members of the council are doing anything wrong. His most recent 
article seems to suggest that there are many positive things in and about our city and that is true. One only has to attend a City 
Council Meeting and listen to the endless "back patting" they do for themselves and for city employees to hear what Mr. Sapp craves 
more of. I, like Mr. Sapp, would like to see more positive things to write about in the City of NRH.
 
 First look at Mr. Sapp's lead in to his article. There is no issue relating to plagiarism and Ms. Christopher. She wrote about 
Eminent Domain after researching information from many sources across the Internet. Her article was written because there is 
indication from the majority of the council that they plan to use this tool to take private property in our city for what will ultimately 
be other private interests. After her article came out, Mr. John Lewis responded with praise for the City of Hurst's use of Eminent 
Domain that ended up costing that city a $3 Million settlement. (The use of eminent domain by cities to further private interests is 
a subject that the Supreme Court may hear next year.) There is no debate that Ms. Christopher's article was NOT plagiarism but 
Mr. Sapp used it anyway as if it were detrimental to Ms. Christopher. I don't think this is "positive".
 
 Mr. Sapp then talks about "gotcha" articles - which I assume references his own work.
 
 If Mr. Sapp is so concerned about creating a positive atmosphere where so many people do not have to fight city hall, perhaps 
he could start by suggesting courtesy from the Mayor to both citizens and the new Council Members. Such courtesy is certainly lacking 
in our current council meetings. Perhaps Mr. Sapp could suggest that the city provide full information in the "agendas" for council 
meetings instead of the cryptic documents that do not tell you what the council is working on. Perhaps if Mr. Sapp is "concerned" about the business atmosphere in our city he could visit with business owners in our city to see why they are so angry with the city. (A clue is the current city enforcement of the sign ordinance that does not comply with state law.) Mr. Sapp might also suggest that the 
Mayor demand that Mr. Staples stay awake at council meetings since we are paying him $160 per hour for his "services" to the city! 
(I personally think the city fares better though when Mr. Staple stays asleep.)
 
 Unfortunately, things will probably not be positive to please Mr. Sapp until the demeanor of the current council members’ 
changes. Positive leadership starts at the top and the Mayor and old council members certainly set the tone for our city. That is the 
reason there is so much that needs "fixing".
 
 Perhaps, when Mr. Sapp writes his next column, he will take the "high ground" and write a sincere article about something 
that will grab your attention, is positive about the city and will not be a deceptive "kick in the seat" for some member of the opposition.