To the Editor:
Our First Amendment delineates several freedoms as well as protecting Free Speech and the right to peaceful assembly. I join my fellow Warwick City Council members in affirming the rights of those who disagree with the Car Tax to make themselves heard. However, I take exception to not only the gross misrepresentation of facts but also the personal attacks, harassment and bullying tactics that have been displayed lately.
There is a fine line between protected speech and unprotected conduct. Rob Cote’s flyer contains inflammatory language and misinformation with photographs of six Council members, our home addresses and phone numbers. This call to action jeopardizes the elected officials as well as our families. Yes, this information is accessible on the City website. However, where is the potential cooling-off period when a provoked bystander is challenged with “So what are you going to do about it?” on a handbill with pictures and contact information at his/her immediate disposal?
A stack of these flyers was stapled to the utility pole directly in front of my house. An aggressive driver displaying a Car Tax Rally sign in the back of his open truck badgered and tailgated my son as he was driving home from work. I have received insulting emails disclosing personal information about my colleagues ad nausea and crank calls in the middle of the night. These same handouts were stuffed in bags at local stores or stuck under the wipers of parked cars. In a last ditch effort of intimidation, Rob Cote threatened to publish a photo of me holding a sign in support of Collective Bargaining Agreements. A picture I originally published on my FaceBook page and a principle I publicly endorse.
What does any of this have to do with the real issue of dissatisfaction with the car tax valuations and exemption? Not one blessed thing. State the facts and let them stand on their own merit. As an elected council person, I encourage people to contact their elected officials if they are displeased with how we vote and to participate in the democratic process not socio-political terrorism.
The future of our city depends on the cool heads of strong, positive leaders.
And above all, letting your elected officials know what is important to the citizens of our city.
Camille Vella-Wilkinson
Warwick City Council/Ward 3
WHINE WHINE WHINE WHINE! You, Ms. Villa-Wilkinson, are not part of the solution, but are certainly part of the problem! If I were Mr. Cote, I would be talking to legal counsel about slander and libel, as you have made some sweeping accusations directed at him. If you felt threatened or intimidated, did you report it or file a complaint with the police? "Socio-political terrorism" ??? Stop listening to those idiot talking heads on cable TV or inflammatory websites that pretend to espouse political discourse. In short, please come up with an original, cogent thought as this letter is pretty pathetic.
Vella-Wilkinson says:
"The future of our city depends on the cool heads of strong, positive leaders. And above all, letting your elected officials know what is important to the citizens of our city."
So, what will you do when the citizens say enough is enough - end the free healthcare benefits for life? Where's the strong positive leader that will tell the unions that the gravy train has run out of gas?
Ms. Vella-Wilkinson is a breath of fresh air in Warwick! She is not whining, just stating her opinion on a matter where someone closed the line. The Council Meeting on Monday night was not the proper forum for Cote or any taxpayer to get their point across. The Council was not even talking about Car taxes!!!
Just using the word "Revolt" in the title of the event/gathering/rally says a lot.
Sorry, I meant crossed the line.
Mr. Cote's actions got the President of the City Council to agree that there is a time and place for a discussion about the car taxes at the City Council level. Now, all we need is for Ms. Vella-Wilkinson or another City Council person to introduce legislation to call for that discussion. It will be interesting to see if a councilperson steps forward to introduce that legislation. If they don't open up the discussion then nobody on the "city side" can complain about future tax revolts.
What happens if City Council president or mayor delays the introduction of this legislation? Then as taxpayer initiated litigation moves forward the city council can duck behind the "litigation pending" shield. More and more agitation will result moving us closer to the 2012 election season. The result will be that the City Council sits on its hands as the fairness and constitutional issues unfold in the courtroom.
This car tax issue is going to send the mayor and several City Council members to a dramatic political sendoff during the upcoming elections. And, they will not be headed for Washington unless they get jobs at the FAA!
Ms. Vella-Wilkinson,
You're right, our future depends on STRONG leaders. It's easy to see that the real issue is health care co-pays and pension costs. Reduce these and there is no need for the car tax period. How can we afford health care for life for anyone? Seriously, my health care at one of the largest companies in the entire world goes up by 15-30% per year and covers 50% less. How can we afford free health care for anyone period? A cool head and strong leader knows that it's time for that to come to an abrupt end. Why does the mayor want to wait till 2013 to even start pension reform? Does he have a nephew he's waiting to get a job? Why can't we enact this for future hires starting next week? They're not here to complain about it and if they don't like it, find a job elsewhere. No more pensions, welcome to 401k's managed by Wall St. thieves like the rest of us common folk.
While I certainly don't like to hear some of the tactics being used, the easy way to get them to stop is to propose this simple change to put us back on the real road to recovery. We need job creation, better schools and education and lower taxes to make people want to live here. Without those we'll remain in a continual death spiral. Please be the strong leader that we need to get us through this without going broke or having to move and raise the tax burden on those that remain. I love RI and Warwick and I don't want to move but it's getting to the point I have to consider how much more money I would have living elsewhere.
I saw a glimmer of hope in you when you came to the School Committee meeting and listened when we asked you to work with the city to not buy new snow plows and to get the city to plow the schools. I had high hopes you would follow through, but nothing ever came of it. You can do it, be STRONG and level headed. How can we give out raises at a time like this with huge deficits? This is fiscal nonsense and pure politics at play. Sure you may help your chance of getting elected again by the city workers but at what cost? If the city goes bankrupt where will we be? I almost hope that happens so we can end these crazy contracts once and for all. Make change today, don't wait till tomorrow it'll be too late.