Though I was unable to attend the August 6, 2007 Coquille City Council meeting several people advised me of the conduct of Councilor Bruce Parker regarding the Coquille Valley Sentinel. Parker was quoted as saying that the paper did not reflect the ‘values’ of Coquille. He referred to the authors of letters to the editor regarding the local police department as ‘malcontents’.
Does the Coquille City Council denounce the Constitution, the Bill of Rights? The first amendment clearly prohibits abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. It further allows citizens to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Is the first amendment not part of Coquille’s value system? Is Coquille un-American?
By what yardstick does Mr Parker label his fellow citizens ‘malcontents’? By his own words it would appear that anyone who dares disagree with city management is a malcontent. What hubris to cast one self as judge, juror and censor in a democratic society, or is democracy not part of Coquille’s value system either? Is this the position of the entire city council or the special purview of a despotic, Mr Parker?
Parker then childishly announced that he had cancelled his subscription to the Sentinel because they had the audacity to print views other than his own. To help compensate for this devastating loss I reinstated my subscription.
Thank you and welcome PotentialMalcontent
We are many of us deeply concerned as you are about city administration. Many stories have filtered my way over the last two plus years and especially these last few weeks. Only the citizens can demand accountability and I believe it is high time we grouped together and did just that. Coquille can do much better
Hello…as most of you veterans of this site will know, I’m new here. Not new to Coquille…but then, I guess I was once one of those terrible “out of town owners”…
Anyway…I delivered a letter today to the Sentinel. I support them 1000%. They are only doing what newspapers do.
My feelings about Mr. Parker’s tirade are all in the letter. That is not what I’m here to write about.
I work in N. Bend, and am gone much of the day, so all of this controversy has mostly slipped past me unnoticed. I have gathered a few bits and pieces, and would like to post my opinions. Those that I have so far, I guess.
First…our City Manager is a yes man. Plain and simple. He will do anything he has to do to keep the peace in his little world. Been that way since day one.
Our Chief…well…what can I say? I don’t like him, I have no respect for him, and I’m sure the feeling is mutual. In fact…I know it is.
Our Police Dept as a whole…I have had contact with our police dept since the summer of ’93. Not as a criminal, but as a citizen concerned about a local park and the goings on there. I have been instrumental (I think) in stopping the drug deals, the fights, etc over the years, and have nothing but respect for the majority of the officers who have responded to my calls. I’ve met Webley once…but I know Smith, Ulmer, McNeely, and Bryant. (Bryant had a lot to learn about personal vendettas, but hey…look at his teacher! I believe he has figured it out.) I knew Lee, Brendan, Yost, O’Sullivan, Morris, more. Some are a little badge heavy when they first start out, but soon they realize that we all put our socks on before our shoes. I have no issues with individual officers. I like most of them. They are great guys with a difficult job. And, to add to that difficult job, they have Chief Reaves and his personal minions constantly devising ways to be annoying.
I don’t know what it takes to be a Chief. I’m sure there are certificates and experience levels that must be achieved, and even though he was hired under a gray cloud, he must have possessed them. But, I ask this…what has he done for our community? Has the crime rate gone down? Has he eliminated drugs and dealers in our town?
I know that he has eliminated one of the top forces of “Reserves” in the county…almost immediately after he got here. I know that most people in our community don’t trust him…for whatever reason. I know that many believe he is a big part of some “good ol boys” group…evidenced daily by his forays to Fraziers.
I apologize for rambling. In short, I think that our City staff is great…they are people just like you and me. It’s the Admin I worry about. And I’m really getting tired of people asking questions they can’t…or won’t answer. We either elect them or pay their salaries. We don’t have to kowtow to them…and I hope all will join me in supporting The Sentinel in their battle.
Thanks
Mean people suck.
It is really just astounding the contrast between how other city councils run their meeting and the Coquille City Council. Further, how can the city attorney, sitting right there, allow some of these things to go on?
Civil discourse, public debate, a redress of government in public forum are precisely what city council meetings are for. Certainly tempers get heated but elected city officials should conduct themselves professionally for the benefit of the whole city.
Parker’s defense of his buddy the chief should not be done at the expense of civil liberties or local businesses. The economy in Coquille is depressed enough. How could the rest of the council allow such behavior?
The fact that Parker would treat Cory in this abominable fashion is completely unacceptable from a city council member. Surely, Coquille can do better than this current crop of council members.
Cory, that is a tactic bullies use, he obviously gets away with it, or he wouldn’t do it. It must work with the women around him.
But we aren’t so easily bullied, and we will be there for you.
What’s right will prevail, sooner or later, the truth will come out, and I think they know it now.
We all need to attend the council meetings from now on out. The people of Coquille deserve better.
Oh they’re not bringing me down! I WILL defend this one! They know they haven’t seen the last of me. I told them so! Next city council meeting should be an interesting one to say the least!! Yeah, Heart of Stone. I wasn’t very impressed with either one of them. It’s always a clue when someone you are speaking to crosses their arms and tries to stare a hole through ya! I had to tell him to stop starring at me like that. Grrrrrr!
MAYBERRY LIVES!!!!!!
Don’t let ’em bring you down, Cory. Continue to stand on what is right, I’m just sorry you meet such disagreeable folks.
Mr. Parker? I can get you a cardiologists number, better have that “heart thingy” looked at, doesn’t sound like it’s functioning properly, what you say?
Hey, just got back from talking with Mr. Parker at Century 21. Well actually I just got kicked out of Century 21!! He chooses to defend his ignorant actions. He reminds me of the 3 little monkeys. You know hear no evil! Oh and the wife goes along with him. Guess I better talk to my daughter about having someone else sell her house for her. My family certainly doesn’t need the likes of someone like the Parker family doing business for them. And the girls at the Sentinel – well, he says he said what was in his heart. What an ass!
Excellent post, petunia! I particularly like – “You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.â€
~ John Morley
However, conversion is not the aim of those who would suppress free speech. The aim is to maintain ‘governance’ as usual and protect the established fiefdoms for the good of the few and the detriment of the many
Food for thought………
All American politicians, including such revered figures as founders — and later presidents — George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, have felt the sting of the press. In the U.S. constitutional system, the press occupies special ground, calling upon government officials to account for their actions and publicizing their failures so that voters may better judge them. Despite the ill treatment he received from the press of the 18th and early 19th centuries, Jefferson had no doubt of its importance. “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government,” he wrote in 1802, “I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
Quotes to consider:
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
~ Voltaire
“If we don’t believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don’t believe in it at all.”
~ Noam Chomsky
“You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.”
~ John Morley
“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”
~ Thomas Jefferson
“The United States can be proud that it has institutions and a structure that permit its citizens to express honest dissent, even though those who do so may be maligned by the highest official in the land.”
~ New York Times
“The press is not only free, it is powerful. That power is ours. It is the proudest that man can enjoy.”
~ Disraeli, Benjamin Novelist (1804-1881)
My friend wanted me to post this on here for her…..she is wwta….
It has been brought to my attention that Mr. Bruce Parker doesn’t like our local newspaper anymore because they allow the citizens of Coquille to openly express themselves, their gratitude, ideas, any yes even complaints in the Public Forum. Freedom of speech. What a concept!
It seems that Mr. Parker is upset about negative letters referring to the Coquille Police Dept. I am glad that Mr. Parker doesn’t have the power of censorship, or does he? He could respond with a letter of his own. He has that freedom like anybody else.
I have seen several front page articles, positive articles about the Coquille Police Dept. in the Sentinel the last couple of months. Nobody has complained about that. I think the Sentinel has been fair with everyone, at least so far.
Doesn’t Mr. Parker work for Century 21? I wonder if they know that he, in my opinion, uses some of the shoddiest business practices that I have ever heard of. He may not subscribe to the Sentinel anymore but rest assured he will be getting the obituary page somewhere. He has become famous at the Senior Meals for showing up uninvited at the door of those who have just lost a spouse, telling them that they don’t need that big house anymore, but he can really help them. He can get them a really good price for their house. I was told that he bought one widows house himself and more than doubled his money on it within a couple of months. Sounds kinda like a vulture doesn’t it? Is Century 21 aware of his business practices? Does the City Council go along with him? He seems to have alot of clout in this town. That is frightening. Does he have the power to censor the Sentinel? I don’t put anything past someone who preys on the elderly.
Oh. The Chief! I see, you are talking about MR. Reeves. If he would have been the only one at the station it wouldn’t have gotten reported by me – that’s for sure. So why the hell couldn’t someone from the dept. have told me that it was stolen? Would have saved me alot of tears and fears as well. No. Point taken Andy and Barney!
Glad it is going to be taken care of, Cory. Regarding the courtesy of the officer you spoke with, the only member of the PD who I have ever found to be blatantly rude is the chief. The officers I have spoken to for the most part, (Smith is so, so), have been polite.
Wow guys – I just got home from the police station. Seems as though some one stole Leah’s plaque off her bench. I Went down to report it and was informed that Sgt. Smith has it, and is working on that investigation. The city plans to fix it according to Ulmer, who by the way was VERY nice and compassionate as well. Seriously. I don’t remember the last time a cop was that polite and curtious to me. I’m impressed!
Robert’s Rules of Order must not be part of Coquille’s values evidently
Archie Bunker! That is who I want to see next… or have we seen him there already?????
Actually, Archie is sooooo pre-9/11 – maybe we need someone like Jerry Springer, I hear he really knows how to run a meeting
Aw shucks, guys, I hear Barney and Goober are speaking at the NEXT council meeting, can’t wait!
I read an article written two or three years ago urging the people of Coquille to “…take back their city government and get involved. We are going to see this town dry up and blow away if they don’t”.
The article was pretty vitriolic, discussed recalls and talked about council members intimidating citizens. Would Parker label the author a ‘malcontent’? It would be interesting to find out as the author is retired sheriff Mike Cook.
I’ll be sure to ask him those questions tomorrow when I call him! Anything else you would like to know from Mr. Councilman of the year?
to Cory
One would think you are right. Nevertheless, the conduct of the city council these last two meetings has been ‘colorful’ to say the least. Perhaps, someone needs to define what Coquillian values really are. Civility in discourse doesn’t appear to be one of them. Was he speaking for the entire city council? Do they agree it is appropriate to try and damage a local business, the paper? What are they thinking?
I had the privilege of going down and listening to the tape myself today. Well, Mr Parkers part anyway – all I was interested in. And yes, it is VERY interesting. Ya know, I am pretty sure Mr. Parker has a daughter or granddaughter that was actually in Leah’s class. Perhaps he’d be singin’ a different tune if this were HIS daughter or granddaughter. What cha think?
excuuuuuuse me, Mr. Parker, plesae respond and tell me why you are calling your constituants names? AT the meeting? I think a great big apology is due the people of Coquille! And a dressing down as well, how dare you stifle free speech. What is wrong with you people?
Okay, let’s start defending his rudeness fans.