Cambridge Council Laments Deception

In one of the more hilarious stories about the Cambridge MA City Council are the below comments from councilors regarding a citizen petition to overturn a council decision to change the sign ordinance for the city. Simply opposing the efforts challenging the spineless exercise of council authority could be accepted. But instead of using rational arguments these councilors accuse the citizen petitioners of misleading the voters. Huh? Gasp! Politicians oppose misleading voters? What is next? Politicians telling the truth? These comments do not pass any laugh test. Former Mayor Reeves openly lies during and between council meetings. Accusing a citizen petition funder of deception is at best curious. As for out-of-town signature gatherers, what is the problem when many Cambridge politicians accept campaign contributions from persons who live far from Cambridge? Any wonder why politicians ignore the voters? They get their money from and serve non residents.

[From article]
"Some councilors said that the signature collectors had been spreading misinformation about the ordinance
[. . .]
'I think that this was a deliberate campaign to mislead the public, and I think it’s shameful,' Mayor David Maher said.
[. . .]
the four councilors each recalled that the campaigner had told them untruths about the sign ordinance.

This same misinformation, they said, has turned up in the majority if e-mails they received about the issue. [Councilor Leland] Cheung said
[. . .]
'We’re in the midst of something that has never been here before and it is ugly,' Reeves said. 'And it is an attempt to overrun the government by somebody who has a lot of money to do that with. We’ll see if in the People’s Republic, the people are for sale.'"

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1273028000/Cambridge-city-councilors-say-sign-petition-relied-on-misinformation

By Brian P. Nanos
Cambridge Chronicle
Posted Oct 26, 2010 @ 03:12 PM
Last update Oct 26, 2010 @ 03:14 PM