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There used to be a commercial on TV where people would try to figure out if music they were listening to was live or taped. The tag line was, "Is It Real, Or Is It Memorex?" The Dean's List would like to change that tag line a bit:
"Is It Real, Or Is It Politics?"
The Dean's List gave you a brief play by play of what happened at the meeting that took place this past Saturday at the Monroe County Office Building. The open meeting was held to identify the candidate for the Public Defenders position. We've all heard about what happened that day and the resulting arrests of Assemblyman Gantt and Ministers Florence and Scott, so I won't go into that again (read The Dean's List - Public Defender Meeting - Play By Play posted on 2.11.08 for more information).
It's hard to believe that we are living in the 21st Century - 2008! The community had every right to attend that meeting on Saturday, but a group of County Legislators decided on their own that we didn't. It didn't matter to them that there are laws in place to protect the rights of the citizens of Rochester; it didn't matter that one half of the Legislative body had removed themselves from the meeting because they knew it was illegal for them to continue; it didn't matter that the people that elected them into office in the first place wanted to be heard. They kicked everyone out and proceeded to submit their recommendation.
Even though I am in my mid-40's and didn't experience the Civil Rights Movement first hand, last Saturday, I felt as if I had teleported back to the 60's. With over 40 officers (Sheriff Deputies and RPD) standing facing us and threatening to arrest all of us (a peaceful group), visions of dogs and fire hoses filled my head!
There has been a debate over the last couple of days saying that what happened was due to racism. I didn't see it that way. Contrary to popular belief, there was a White Democratic Legislator, Harry Bronson (Minority Leader) who stood side by side with the other Democratic Legislators. The room it self was filled with a melting pot of Rochester citizens ? Black/White, Rich/Poor, Man/Woman, Young/Old. I was sitting next to a woman who was White, around 70 years old and a Republican. She told me that she had been trying to meet with her Legislator to talk about this issue and he wouldn't accept her multiple requests. It's not a Black/White issue: It's not a Republican/Democrat issue - It's a Rochester Citizen issue.
Will we continue to allow elected officials to make decisions for us that we disagree with? George Bush has been doing it for the last 7 years and now it's happening in our own back yard.
Laws were established to be adhered to. We as voters must hold these officials accountable and call them out when they make decisions based on political gain versus what's right and legal.
"Is It Real, Or Is It Politics?"
You can write the Dean's List with your thoughts or comments at: thedeanslist1@gmail.com
