“I am not a crook!”

“I am not a crook!” Cambridge City Council Journalism Committee Meets

Immediately after closing public comment, at the January 22, 2007 meeting Councilor and Mayor Reeves suspended the rules and convened an emergency meeting of the Journalism Committee. In his best imitation of President Richard Nixon Reeves gave a 13-minute “I am not a crook.” speech.
In the Boston Globe obituary of E. Howard Hunt, by Patricia Sullivan (January 24, 2007, page B8) it is reported, “As the CIA station chief in Mexico City, he planted false newspaper stories about politicians.” Is it possible that the CIA is planting false stories about Mayor Reeves in 2007 in the Cambridge Chronicle?
Reeves said that he cannot rely on the Cambridge Chronicle to print truthful stories about the City. He explained all of the important functions that he attended on behalf of the City. He referred to Hillary Clinton and Harry Belafonte as “Really profound people.”
Reeves explained that most of his travels were spent for the children and to improve the education of the children of Cambridge. One might wonder why the City Council approved more funds if his travel was for the Schools in his capacity as Chairman of the School Committee.
When Councilor Craig Kelley questioned the way that the schools were teaching, Reeves reminded him that it was the School Committee that had jurisdiction over that. So why was the City Council funding travel for the schools?
The Boston area has at least eight education colleges. Included are Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston University Boston, MA, Cambridge College Cambridge, MA, Fitchburg State College Fitchburg, MA, Framingham State College Framingham, MA, Harvard University Cambridge, MA, Lesley University, Cambridge MA, and Northeastern University Boston, MA. Are all of these colleges unaware of what is going on in Rochester and New York City?
None of the Councilors asked why Reeves or his Education aide was unable to do research on teaching methods on the internet? Why did Reeves and his education czar have to travel to Rochester and New York City and Chicago to meet with the experts? Are they keeping some of their knowledge secret?
Reeves said he met with U.S. Senator Kerry in Washington, D.C. Does Kerry not have an office in Boston? He justified his commandeering City Council time to explain himself and to answer the accusation of the Chronicle by saying, “We don’t own a newspaper.” Well, Duh!
Here he was speaking before the voters and all who are interested in government with no restrictions on what he said. The City spends many thousands of dollars each year printing flyers, brochures, and pamphlets sent to all city residents at taxpayer expense. Who needs a newspaper?
More people get those City propaganda sheets than read the Chronicle. The members of the Journalism Committee expressed their unanimous support for the Mayor against the Chronicle. Councilors Kelley, Decker and Galluccio all spoke affirming what Reeves said.
None of the Councilors admitted that they are trying to find a way to suspend the First Amendment as easily as they suspend the council rules at each meeting. Decker said, “I try not to read the Chronicle, because it makes me so crazy.” So that explains it!
Decker said, “We do this job because we love public service.” Is that what they call it? It used to be serving the public. Now it means being served by the public. No wonder they love it.
U.S. Senator Everett Dickson once explained why he decided to run for office. He said, “When I learned that they call you Honorable and invite you to dinner, that was for me.”
Contrary to state law, on January 8, 2007 Councilor Sullivan voted while he was out of the meeting room. This happens often. The Councilors like to hide out of camera view and stay in the buffet room. But when a roll is called they often shout out their vote contrary to state law. This is not important to Mayor Reeves or the other councilors. Only the three-minute rule and speaking to an agenda item matters to all of them.

Roy Bercaw, Editor ENOUGH ROOM