City Using It's Website to Post Misleading Information

By: Ron C. West

Several weeks ago, Maury Siskel made a citizen presentation that was responded to by City Manager Larry Cunningham.  The item is designated "Response to Citizen Presentation" and is dated 7/2/04.  This response was sent to Maury and later published on this website with the following response:

http://nrhonline.com/NRH%20Letter%20from%20Larry%20Cunningham.htm

I guess we should be thankful that we are seeing any response to citizen input - even if it is misleading.  I personally think that a city - if it is planning to respond directly to a specific citizen presentation, should allow for a rebuttal from the citizen being impacted. 

During the last council meeting, the Mayor urged all citizens to contact the city for "correct" information.  He implied that information from a small group of dissidents was in error, outright lies or just misleading.  The Mayor, however, has not identified any specific item that is either incorrect, misleading or a lie to us.

Those of us campaigning for open local government are working hard to make sure that what we say and publish is documented carefully and utilizes facts from city documents.  Further, almost everything published is submitted to the Council prior to publication for their input or corrections if such is necessary in their opinions.  So far, we haven't even received an acknowledgement of such prior notification from any council member.

Over the next few months, I expect that you will see a barrage of information from the City that will be self serving to protect their use of future tax increases on our Seniors and Disabled Citizens.  Do not be deceived, the freeze simply denies our elected officials the right to spend future tax increases on our Seniors and Disabled after they reach the age 65.  It does not excuse them from paying taxes at the amount billed for the year they reach age 65 for the rest of their lives in their homestead. 

If the city plans to use its public website to challenge citizen input then we must challenge the city's right to do so - unless they allow the citizens to rebut such information.  Mr. Cunningham's letter is more misleading than the citizen presentation it attacks.