Henry Blasts Liz Brown, Irks Harper
Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 12/16/08 @ 8:28 am - Filed Under City Council, Featured
Yesterday the mayor signed the controversial lighting ordinance recently passed by city council. He also made an interesting decision to publicly chastise councilwoman Liz Brown for suggesting residents call 911 if they have problems with their neighbor’s lights. Councilman Mitch Harper has now hit back on the mayor suggesting that Brown’s comments were sarcastic in nature and that the real people wasting police time are the mayor and the councilmembers that voted for the ordinance:
Mayor Tom Henry seemed to miss the point regarding the new extension of police powers he signed. Or maybe just his public information staff did.
In either event, his inclusion of a gratuitous negative comment regarding Councilwoman Brown’s remarks following the vote on the new ordinance outlawing “discomfort” from a neighboring house’s light showed that his office didn’t understand that is the Mayor and the Council members who voted FOR the ordinance who were creating a new burden on 911 and the city police.
I think it should also be noted that this is the second time the mayor’s staff has chosen to jab Brown over her comments. In a recent article PIO Rachel Blakeman also brought up Brown’s 911 comments:
Henry’s biggest concern Wednesday was Councilwoman Liz Brown’s suggestion that residents call 911 with lighting complaints. Brown, R-at-large, voted against the law. Residents should instead call 311 or 427-1222, the non-emergency line for city police, Blakeman said.
“That is a very irresponsible use of 911,” she said.
Now maybe Brown had that one coming for changing her vote to eliminate Blakeman’s position during the final budget meeting. It’s one thing for the mayor’s staff to get a single jab in but to bring it up twice - and for the mayor to personally mention it the second time - is going to rub people the wrong way. I’m not sure what the political calculus was behind Henry’s decision but I think he got bad advice on this one….
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21 Responses to “Henry Blasts Liz Brown, Irks Harper”
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If you look at Mayor Henry’s reasoning for not exercising his veto power, it is nonsensical. He says ““it is up to Council to decide what legislative action is appropriate for our community and, in this case, I will support their action..” Please tell me when a VETO would not be over-riding the council’s legislative perogative? It is the very essence of his VETO power.
An opportunity to show leadership blown.
This is a scary ordinance and this is the John Schoaff that so many people were scared about when he was originally elected in 2003. After 5 years, he is now showing his true colors and it could get scarier.
Jeff,
The Mayor was doing his job- making sure the public was aware that you SHOULD NOT call 911 for a “light disturbance”.
CLearly Harper is incorrect- the Mayor did not encourage the citizens to dial 911- Brown did.
The Mayor was being a smart-ass in return for Brown being sarcastic. Tit for Tat all over a ridiculous and unenforceable ordinance.
Fort Wayne just cracks me up!
If somebody set up a row of spotlights on their property and shined them on somebody else’s property, I could see how that could be annoying. If this was an ongoing problem in Fort Wayne, I could even see the need for a law. But such a law would have to define how much light is too much in terms of candlepower or lumens.
I take it that Liz Brown does not live in the same neighborhood as Phil Marx?
Kevin,
911 is the only number people can use to report an “infraction”. 311 is closed during most of the night time hours.
427-1222 is still available at night.
George,
You help highlight an important point- Mayor Henry urged people to call 311 OR the Desk Sargeant at 427-1222.
here is his statement:
““Let me say one more thing,” said Mayor Henry. ”At the Council meeting last Tuesday, one Council member who is opposed to this action made a very irresponsible statement directing citizens to call 9-1-1 if they have a problem with a bright light. That is not the appropriate use of 9-1-1. Our dispatchers cannot afford to spend time on calls of this nature when there are urgent, potentially life-and-death calls waiting. I encourage citizens to utilize 3-1-1 or call the police department at 427-1222 to report a problem.”
See, he was just pointing out that 911 WAS NOT the number to call!
Kevin,
A commenter from FWoB:
I would think that they answer the 911 lines first.
No matter who gets the call, the police are getting thrown into another impossible situation. They will be called on to enforce an unenforceable law. Both the complaintant and the so-caled violator will be pissed when the officers leave. Some poor shmuck in the same area will have to wait for police assistance because the officers are hand holding a neighborhood feud. How much light is to much? Please!
Of all the needs for enforcement assistance, this is the most asinine to come down the pike.
Point of interest: If you have an internet phone service, you do not get a city or county employee when you dial 911. You get a employee of the company that provides your service. Since I use Vonage, if I called 911 right now from my house phone, I would be talking to a Vonage representative who would then forward the call to the proper authorities.
You are all forgetting that Marty Bender, A POLICE OFFICER, was the swing vote.
He apparently thinks that there is not an enforcement problem waiting to happen.
Kevin,
It’s a well known fact that Sgt. RINO Bender is simply a patsy for Tom Henry. For him, this senseless ordinance is nothing more than job protection for his union minions.
Penny,
Marty Bender is NOT in the PBA union. Nice try though.
There you go Kevin putting words in people’s mouth’s again.
I didn’t say he was in the union. He does however have plenty of friends in the PBA, as he once was “one of them”.
Kinda funny watching Kevin come to Benders’ defense isn’t it?
May the DINO’s and RINO’s unite.
Penny Wise,
Credibility begins with accuracy. According to http://www.fwpd.org/staff.html, it is Martin A. Bender, Deputy Chief, Northwest Division. Far from, “Sgt. RINO Bender!”
Perhaps you can call the same number that you call for smoking ban and sign ordinance violations. Call it the Big Brother line.
Liz Brown is a boob. Together with Mayor Henry, they make a nice “PAIR.”
Hey Kevin KANUTE,,,,,,,,,,SHUT UP!