Written by Jeff Kingsbury
NOTE* This posting is intended for readers and posters on rhenda.com ONLY. Those who wish to comment may do so by obtaining an account on rhenda.com. Copying and pasting this post, in whole or in part, is expressly forbidden.
I’ve been really thinking about this. For obvious reasons. Issues that I care about include…
- Who was I talking about?
- How long was I actually using Facebook?
- Should I have used my city computer to be on Facebook?
- How could I have used such a “demeaning” term?
- Am I paying attention in meetings?
- Why don’t I go to olyblog and post my reasons?
Who was I talking about?
I was talking about Moses. There’s been a significant hulabaloo from a few regarding time stamps and how it doesn’t add up. Particularly since I reference “these folks” “someone who doesn’t agree with our policy” etc. And the additional comments on the thread that seem to indicate that I was referencing other speakers.
How long was I actually using Facebook? and Should I have used my city computer to be on Facebook?
Moses has frequently if not always disagreed with our policy that he must speak on city business only, which he routinely flouts. He also disagrees that he can’t use derogatory and demeaning terms to describe former elected officials, general members of the community, minority groups (every ethnicity, gender, women, interracial relationships…you name it) He believes he has a “free speech” right to say whatever he wants.
My “status” posting was made while he was beginning his rant on white people being ruled by mulattos! It took approximately 3 seconds to post it. Additional time stamps are in reference to that posting (those who replied…one of whom asked about facebook during council, by the way, which is when I posted that I could type and still look at them) Additional posts were encouraging me to blog, twitter, and post MORE OFTEN during meetings! It has been asserted that I was commenting on testimony regarding our building codes, which is absurd as I wholeheartedly agreed with that particular citizen and SAID SO in the meeting! Or that I was commenting on those who were testifying regarding the feasability study, which is also wrong since I consider almost every single person (to a fault) to be on friendly terms with me (even though we may disagree) Moses gets under my skin, along with the skin of countless other citizens. This was about him, and only about him.
I am a competent and fast typist. I frequently keep a “cheat sheet” of public comments on my laptop until the close of the meeting, as I can type faster than I can write, and my handwriting is attrocious. I also type questions that I may have, and motions that I am intending to make WHILE WE ARE DISCUSSING AND DELIBERATING. This is owing to the fact that sometimes the direction I was intending to go changes! I spend precious little time ON Facebook. I was not IMing anyone, merely posting my “status” and responding to the comments as they came. Those postings “refresh” periodically.
The guidelines of Facebook are clear. It is intended to be a private network, with “friends” sharing information. (In fact, their guidelines expressly prohibit “screenshotting” private comments and posting them onto public sites wtihout the permission of the parties involved. Here’s an article
http://www.gelfmagazine.com/archives/reporters_meet_facebook.php)
I, along with countless electeds, frequently post updates while meetings are in progress. This is a common practice, and appropriate. Many of my friends either watch the meeting on television, or those that don’t have access to TCTV stream it live while they are also monitoring their Facebook pages. The postings often give them (my “friends”) a perspective they cannot glean from the video. (I also keep The Olympian site open, Olyblog, the agenda, the staff reports as they unfold, and occasionally other blog sites as they become relevant, like recently a couple of anarchist sites) If the council wishes to consider a policy banning such practices, I would willingly participate in the discussion and abide by whatever the majority decides.
How could I have used such a “demeaning” term?
As to the term used to describe a citizen…I had every right to believe that I was on a private network. And the right to have an opinion. As I stated in the newspaper, I could have been kinder, but I did not intend for the entire community to have access to my opinion, only those who, for the most part, share…or at least appreciate…my take on things. The terminology could have been kinder, even in THAT context, but I certainly DID feel that way. This is in contrast, by the way, to a former colleague who pasted his opinion on the back of his computer for the entire viewing public to see. Most of the naysayers in THIS case, supported his right to do so, despite the fact that legions of citizens complained repeatedly!
My job is to make policy choices based on data, and knowledge, and NOT on whether or not I like or dislike the presenter(s). I try very hard to do just that. I certainly have opinions about many folks, some I agree with, others, I don’t.
Am I paying attention in meetings?
There is little question that I pay close attention in meetings. I do my research, comment when appropriate, remain mum when I have nothing salient to add, listen to testimony, read staff reports, check my notes, etc. I will continue to do so. I am proud of my work. I believe that I serve my constituency well, despite differing opinions.
Why don’t I go to olyblog and post my reasons?
I don’t post on Olyblog because it allows anonymous postings. People can use nicknames or pseudonyms and hide behind the mask of anonymity. This gives them a sense of power in terms of posting vitriolic, mean spirited rants. The Olympian blog allows the same. The average “casual” user or viewer of such sites has no idea WHO the poster is. Whether or not they agree with their political views. (Is it a republican or a democrat who thinks all of the Olympia City Council are flakes, for example?) This is unfair to someone who is being maligned (whether it’s me or anyone else), and not in keeping with the spirit of “public disclosure”. Certainly there are people who post there who use their actual names, and they have my respect. I won’t step into that hornet’s nest, however.
I am candid, forthright, and honest. Certainly it would be difficult to suggest that citizens would not know where I stand on an issue. I take every phone call, answer every email that is directed expressly to me, and sometimes comment on emails sent to the entire council, if I feel that I can add a policy perspective that has not been shared. I am not a shrinking violet. I try to be fair in all my dealings.
I did not know who zeet was when the post went up on another blog site. I have since discovered who it was, and for personal reasons, I have deleted our connection. This is a person who I have known for some time, and as far as I know, have never had even an uncomfortable conversation with…of any kind. As far as I knew, I had every reason to believe that if that person had a disagreement with me they would approach me, either in person, by phone, or electronically.
I will be slower to press the “send” button in the future…if at all.
Jeff Kingsbury smiling in spite of the pickle he's created.
This week, Olympia City Councilmember Jeff Kingsbury found himself in quite a pickle–a pickle he admits was of his own making. “I really thought it would be a simple thing to do,” groaned Kingsbury, “but, I gotta tell you, more than once after I got into it I was wishing I had just left that cucumber alone!” Kingsbury, who has long held an anti-cuke stance, brought up the pickle question three weeks ago after serving for 8 months with three new Council colleagues.
One of those colleagues, Rhenda Strub, was more than a little surprised that Kingsbury would raise the pickle question in September, with so much else going on. “Well, I stated many times during the campaign where I stood on the cuke issue. I am no fan of cukes. Still, I am unwilling to initiate the pickling. If someone else starts the process, I will join them in the pickle. But, I will not undertake it myself.”
Rhenda Strub in the pickle with Kingsbury.
On Thursday, Kingsbury bought 40 pounds of cukes at the Farmer’s Market in Olympia, where he also rounded up some fresh dill and garlic. True to her word, Strub followed him into the pickle at Aunt Jan’s house Friday morning. There, following an old Kingsbury family recipe, the two saw the pickle project through to its end. Worn out and smelling of vinegar, Strub said Friday evening “I have no regrets, but, I need to take a break from reading the pro-cuke email I’m getting. Some of it is just radioactive.”
Only time will tell whether the effort Kingsbury and Strub expended to resolve the pickle will produce tasty results. Stay tuned for a future pickle update.
Kosher garlic and red pepper dill pickles made by Kingsbury, Strub, and Auntie Jan
Jeff Kingsbury and me at the Mariner's game.
Tough night, Tuesday. People yelling at us. Guy wearing a death mask. Hate mail. People booed a police department employee when we gave him an award.
I was feeling wrung out on Wednesday, but Jeff called to say he had scored some free Mariner’s tickets. Woohoo!
Here we are. It took the pair of us 10 minutes to figure out how to take this blurry picture. We could have really used the help of someone under 30.
Beautiful sunshine, hot dogs, cold beer, seats three rows from the field on the 3rd base side. We had great fun. M’s won, which was fun too, not that we cared.
