Often times you hear the phrase you “can’t fight city hall”. This phrase is synonymous with City Hall standing in the way of progress in one way or another. This past week we saw that in reality when you say you “can’t fight City Hall” it really means you can’t fight the people of a city. After all City Hall is an extension of the people who make up a city.
The voters of Ward 7 showed that you could fight City Hall when they refused to recall Ward 7 Councilwoman Dottie Greer. Despite efforts of the Mayor, her husband, her confidants, Glennon Jamboretz, Ken Kielty. Linda Meyer, Kevin Kast, Mike Weller and Bob Kneemiller along with millionaire developer TR Hughes and Mike Sellenschuetter, Dottie retained her office
The recall of Dottie Greer wasn’t Dottie vs. wealthy developers, public relations firms, scorned police wives, Mayor York, Bob Kneemiller or Mike Weller. It was them against City Hall, a City Hall that is the people’s public house. Our City Hall is only as strong as those who serve their terms in our government. Each and every member of the council is an extension of the wards they represent.
That is where the wealthy developers, public relation firm, scorned police officers wives, Mayor York, Bob Kneemiller and Mike Weller made their mistake. They thought they were fighting Dottie alone. She had support in her ward because her ward saw her supporting them. She fought to get streets fixed, streetlights installed, tax relief for the seniors. Dottie didn’t break any laws; she broke the mold of previous council members in the ward. She said the rich and famous are not my constituents. Those who live on Park, Headland, Elmhurst, West Adams, Concordia, Westminster just to name a few, are the people who Dottie serves. Those she serves, delivered a blow to a millionaire developer and his friend the Mayor this past Tuesday. The money spent to get rid of Dottie dwarfed the amounts spent in normal City Council races. The negative, mudslinging ads against her offended even the most hardened of souls. Those who decided to pick on Dottie for recall did it because they thought she was weak.
Dottie by herself might have appeared weak but the residents of Ward 7 are not weak. They are as strong as ever. The residents of Ward 7 sent a message to the likes of Tom Hughes, Kevin Kast, Patti York, Bob Kneemiller, Mike Sellenschuetter, Linda Meyer, Ken Kielty and Mike Weller that our City Hall is not for sale. The people spoke to those who conspired in destroying our city and our way government for their own gain. As a resident of Ward 1 I say thank you to the people of Ward 7 for not allowing our City Hall to go to the highest bidder.
