The recent "dust up" between Councilman Rick Shefield and myself clearly sets out my point. Rick seemed to feel he was clearly justified in reaching a conclusion and casting a vote without sharing the facts with the Rowlett citizens. I strongly deny that right to do so. I wanted to know the questions and answers discussed in this "giveaway." I presumed the citizens of Rowlett would, also. However, Rick wasn't the only one to take that position. I received a call from another council member. In that call, a similar comment was made. It was said that they, too, were satisfied with the answers given in Executive Session, in which no citizen was welcome. That story didn't get any better the second time I heard it.
In my opinion, the facts of which are substantially supported by my previous blog postings, our city council and staff are either withholding information or manipulating information to achieve certain preordained results. I am saddened by this. I fault staff for much of this and the city council for allowing it to happen. As I wrote earlier, they could have been telling jokes in Executive Session. The citizens would never know. To double-down and look over the top of their glasses and chastise me for sarcasm, is almost a surefire formula for additional new and better sarcasm.
There is no shame in publically debating an issue, then losing to a superior argument. There is shame in manipulating the facts or denying access to the facts. What happened to "transparency?" It never did exist, anyway.
To hide a weaker position in a debate behind elitist behavior is just downright unacceptable; in my opinion, of course. You guys make up your own minds. It's only your money, town, and future.