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CAVEAT:
This article is one of a series of editorial articles that express personal
opinions and views. They are written with no pretensions to be error free. I
will gladly correct substantial errors of fact. My opinions can change,
depending upon my awareness and understanding of changes in factual
information. It is my intent to remain focused on specific public issues,
regarding the personalities involved. For all I know, all the characters are
saints, concerning their private lives and other public business...
Changes may be requested by e-mailing the details to pmarkham@manistique.org 01/27/09 The following was my public comment at the Manistique City Council meeting, last night. I substituted "n word" where appropriate, but include the original word, as there are no other words that express, so well, the meaning of an individual human being reduced to little more than a means to another's ends. No one at the council meeting offered any relevant response, on the record. "Assuming that a local resident by the name of Jeff Gregurash, is not burned out from chemical abuse, can anyone tell me why he would choose to plow snow and street shoulder gravel onto my property, when he has far more empty property of his own on which to plow snow and city street shoulder gravel? The reason I bring this before council is because I consider that it is likly that he, and others, do it because the existing snow plowing ordinance, and, quite likely, other ordinances and laws, have insufficient enforcement to discourage some from vandalizing the property of others. I filed a similar complaint with Manistique Public Safety, against Robin LaCroix, several months ago, for trespass and vandalism regarding similar behaviour over the last few years. I have heard nothing since I was told the complaint was forwarded to Schoolcraft County Prosecutor, Peter Hollenbeck. "So what is the big deal?", you might ask, if you were not interested in promoting similar behaviour. Having set up the straw man, I will continue. I own my properties, exclusively, by legal instruments. I pay taxes on my properties to retain ownership. I did not purchase my properties, or pay taxes levied against my properties, for the whimsical use by others. I am not paid, or compensated, by anyone using my properties. I have never given permission to anyone to trespass upon or vandalize my property. I do not sleep in the beds of others, and I do not defecate on the lawns of others, so why would others choose to plow snow and gravel onto my property and expect me to deal with the consequential flooding and cleanup issues and costs? Before I file another vandalism complaint, is there something I should understand about the purpose of unenforced ordinances and laws that allow others to treat me as some "antebellum plantation nigger" with no enforced property rights?" After the meeting, I noticed that Director of Manistique Public Safety, Ken Golat, looked unhappy, so I engaged him in conversation. I told him that I expected and understood his disappointment with my choice of public comments, and that as far as I knew, I had no reason to be disappointed with Public Safety's response to my complaint regarding Robin LaCroix. I then pointed out that as I had not heard a whisper from the Schoolcraft County Prosecutor's office since my complaint was forwarded there, I was not going to waste my life, or anyone else's, unless I had some reason to expect some positive action to hold someone accountable. Regarding the same property that justified last night's comments, over the years I reported other forms of vandalism, by perpetrators known and unknown. To the best of my knowledge, except for one incident, no one was held accountable. Over the past ~10 years, small children have ripped siding off the building. Underground Constructor's Inc. trespassed and damaged the lawn by driving and parking a piece of heavy machinery, on the lawn, below a shade tree, at the far corner of my property. Both front and rear entrance screen doors have been damaged by children. Both the front and rear doors were kicked in by older children or adults. Other than a direct consequence of my diligence, regarding one screen door, no one has been held accountable. All of the above was done on an open residential street corner, well lit with a street light, subject to observation from surrounding residences at all angles. As I had little to no historical reason to expect any satisfaction by filing a new complaint with Public Safety, because too much is left to the discretion of "the authorities", I chose, instead, to register my complaint as "public comments" with those whose job it is to ensure that victimizers are not encouraged to ply their destructive ways. Sorry, Ken, but as it sucks to be me, at times, so it is for you. We don't always get what we want... especially when we rely on local residents to do the right thing, but, in the end, we all die, and with us our disappointments and regrets. Once again, thank you for your efforts. © 2009 Manistique.org |