We need to educate not anger.

Bob>I was asked to post this for someone who wishes to remain anonymous.

First time to your blog and I am really excited that there is finally a place to talk about unpopular subjects, and there is some amount of truth to the conversations. The present topics on code enforcement are long overdue I think. One thing I am not so happy about are the remarks concerning Andrew Hine and reporting him to the city for his code violations. I think it is wrong, and I would like to tell you why. I was part of the 14 Jessamine discussion at eDemocracy last winter. I finally left that blog because of all the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) attempts to "quiet" the voices of anyone they did not agree with. I left at the point where they were trying to make certain people give their identities out to the forum managers. There were 4 other women in my office who would read it almost every day and we would discuss issues on it at lunch quite often. They finally gave up and would not even read it any longer because of the pettiness of some of the regulars there. the last straw for me was a week ago when they were talking about making rules about words because some member was upset over a word that was not even directed at her. What they should call it is the "Feel Good Politically Correct Club". They have nothing to do with honest conversations or facts. When someone there does not agree with you, they threaten you, humiliate and embarrass you, ignore you, and all the other childish things we saw as school children. I really believe they are all Government workers who are trying to kiss their bosses ass through the forum. While it had the perception of being honest and open to all it was good, but that was then and this is now. Of the dozen or so people I know of who read it regularly, none are reading it now.

That brings me to Andrew Hine. One of the posters here threatened to report Andrew to the city because he has code violations. For us as a group to act that way just makes us the same type of people we ran away from at eDemocracy. We as a group are much better than they are. When you started this blog you made reference that anyone could participate and say anything without the fears of the eDemocracy style Regime. The people here are concerned with corruption with regard to housing inspections and how the city deals with crime problems. Andrew is just a lost soulwith mud for brains, to retaliate against him just distracts the real focus on the change all would like to bring about. Furthermore, by creating the perception that we will do things like that is going to have the effect of no one on the "other side" saying anything. That is contrary to what we want. It is in our interest to have them keep talking and making fools out of themselves. It is in our interest for people Like "mad hatter" to come here and spew out his prejudices and racism. It is their own twisted logic and value system that will help win over the "fence sitters" to our side. We have 1 year to influence voters enough to throw out the current City Council, and we will not do it by serving up our own brand of retaliation on people.

Thank you for taking my email.

Bob> I understand the emotions from our side of the issue. People have lost their homes, livelihoods and for some these problems have disrupted the unity of families.
I hope we can educate people, not chase them away for fear some retribution may come their way for getting involved in the dialog.