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The Jim Penman Muppet Show Sequel |
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Thursday, 09 August 2007 |
The Jim Penman Muppet Show Sequel
 Hardy L. Brown
After Mr. Penman completed his presentation the mayor spoke
and stated in no uncertain terms. "Mr. Penman...you have been a sleep at the
switch as the city attorney." The mayor said, "Mr. Penman you are correct about
having the responsibility and authority to update city code to comply with
current law but you have failed." The mayor went as far as to say that the
failure of this city to enforce certain issues lay at the feet of the city
attorney. It was at the close of this hour long exchange that Miss Piggy jumped
into the conversation and chastised the mayor that it is the council that make
policy and legislate for the city. She also explained that it was her, Chas
Kelly and Neil Derry who went to Mr. Penman to have this matter brought to the
council for consideration. It was noted that Tobin Brinker, who is a member of
the three member council legislative committee, was not consulted for this
request. My question to the council is who is the uninvited councilmember to
the legislative committee which would make the forth member in the meeting a
violation of the Brown Act?
After a series of questions and statements by Miss Piggy she
became frustrated with the mayor and left the stage. It was at this time Fozzie
Bear bolted from his seat and went to the public microphone so he could speak
without interruption. He thought this was what you should do since he saw his
scriptwriter, Jim Penman, do it the meeting before. That is what Muppets do,
they follow the master's lead. He could have made his statement from his plaace
on the stage.
Once the act was about to close, the mayor encouraged all
council members to support the proposal to place the moratorium into effect as
soon as possible. They did and everyone went home waiting for Act 3 in two
weeks.
Oakland
Post Editor... Upheld the Spirit of the Black Press
Last week in Oakland
a colleague, Chauncey Bailey, editor of the Oakland Post, was killed by an
assassin's bullet. Bailey was shot on the corner of 14th and Alice Street in downtown Oakland at 7:30 am. The police have arrested
Devaughdre Broussard, 19, who confessed to the shotgun murder. Broussard said
he did it because Bailey was writing stories about the finances of the bakery
he worked for. Bailey had been working on stories regarding the "Your Black
Muslim Bakery" in the neighborhood.
I want to salute Chauncey for his courage to continue to
print the truth in the face of threats. Many had told him it would be easier to
ignore the truth and leave the bakery alone, but Chauncey, being the committed
journalist that he was had to continue his quest to enlighten his community. To
him it made no difference of the color of the business owner. Every since the
Black Press has been in existence publishers and their staffs have had to endure
low or no pay in order to be an advocate or voice for our people. The Black
Press has had to withstand KKK burn outs, advertisers withholding funds, and
other threats to deny the public the right to know the truth. As in the case of
Bailey, his life was taken by an entity that the Oakland Post has helped defend
in the past. The late Tom Berkeley, founder of the Post, was a champion of the
downtrodden and it is apparent the new owner is following that lead. His life
must become a torch for all of us to use as a guide in journalism.
Yes, Chauncey is to be commended for his courage and
commitment to seeking and printing the truth about his community.
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