To the Editor:
What worries me about the Oak Ridge City Council’s recent decision to allow Joseph Lee to continue on the building and zoning appeals board without any sort of reprimand or censure is that the Council in effect is condoning behavior which is not worthy of someone in public service and is actually abusive in nature.
Mr. Lee’s hurtful and contemptuous language in expressing his disappointment that the Council did not renew the red light camera contract the city had was uncalled for and shows a lack of understanding of the limits of adult behavior. His behavior was more like that of a school yard bully.
Anyone can use the tactics of a bully, but if they cannot police themselves, then others need to do it for them.
It is a shame for the Council not to set limits for Mr. Lee. How they could allow this kind of abuse toward a member of the City Council, the entire Council itself, the city staff, and at least one member of the public is incomprehensible to me, unless they are so used to bullying language that they think it is normal.
Virginia M. Jones
Oak Ridge
Harry Pruitt says
Right on target Ms. Jones. While I often disagree with your views, I completely agree with you on this one. Council made a big mistake that will come back to haunt them. We have not heard the last of Mr. lee’s outbursts.
Virginia M. Jones says
Thank you, Mr. Pruitt. I think bullying is a learned behavior, which a person is very likely to change if the people around him do not accept it. I am in hopes that this will happen for Mr.Lee.
BSShipley says
Whats a shame is that a person can’t express his/her opinion with out so much retaliation. What has happen to our rights to free speech. Not everything has to politically correct. Mr Lee had every right to voice HIS opinion. Not everyone has to luck but in the very least should respect it. Its easy to keep your mouth shut, it take integrty to open it.
Mark Caldwell says
Exactly who among the parties involved were abusive. I suppose it’s in the eyes of the beholder.