Who's cowardice is it; Berry's or Huffman-Ramirez'

Mayor Richard Berry was offered an opportunity to step up and lend his support to the effort to improve communications between the leadership of the APS and the people they serve, link. He was offered an opportunity to stand up in defense of the interests of his constituents.

So far, not a word in response; no yes, no no, no I'll get back to you later.



The problem, Berry has a gate keeper; Chris Huffman-Ramirez. You have to go through him to get to Berry. I can't prove that Berry has seen the petition because Huffman-Ramirez refuses to acknowledge that he has seen it.

Huffman-Ramirez is not above screwing with people who are trying to get the Mayor's attention, if he doesn't like them.

I get that there needs to be a layer between the people and their politicians and public servants; otherwise they wouldn't be able to do their jobs.

But the "layer" speaks in their stead; and what the layer does or doesn't say is reasonably attributed to the politician or public servant who authorizes the layer to speak for them.

If Huffman-Ramirez wasn't about pretending I don't exist, he would probably write that I have no right to demand that Berry take a stand on this or any other issue.

For once, he and I agree.

It is not I who demands that he take a stand, it is his conscience and the demands of character and moral courage. All I did was to point to the opportunity to stand on the right side of history; transparently accountable government.

You can be walking down the street and have your attention called to let's say, a bully beating up a little kid. You can argue with the person who pointed out the situation to you about whether or not they have any "right" to expect you to intervene, or you can pick a side by involving yourself, or by walking away.

Unless Huffman-Ramirez is hiding the petition from Berry entirely, unless Berry has no idea the petition exists; it is reasonable to hold Berry accountable for picking a side by not picking the right side.

It is fair to conclude then; Mayor Richard Berry stands against the formation of a Citizens Advisory Council on Communication; he stands against transparently accountable government. He stands against the resolution that there is a time, a day, and a place where public servants can be expected to present themselves and respond candidly, forthrightly and honestly to legitimate questions about the public interests and about their public service.

If is his position is misconstrued; if he is at some disadvantage from his blind support of Huffman-Ramirez, link, then that is his problem.

He should have picked a pio with at least a little character and
courage, to speak or not, in his stead.




photos Mark Bralley