Help Get That Rumor Started! (modified Mar 3, 2009)

A funny thing happened the other day. I heard a rumor about

myself. "Bill Vajk is out to destroy Iron River," it said. I

confess to a few things I do want to destroy.

A good starting point is to destroy a city government

mentality that has city crews out mowing grass they decide

is "unsightly" instead of concerning themselves with child safety.

Why aren't the sidewalks up and down US2 from the Middle

School cleared of snow? Will it take a child slipping down

one of the snowbanks and being killed or maimed before

city government decides to prioritize child safety?

I also want to destroy the mindset that has the city charging

10% late charge, compounding to 314% per year, to the

poor soul that loses his job and suddenly can't pay his

monthly water/trash bill. And when someone doesn't pay

it because they're suddenly out of work, not only does the

city shut off your water, but they keep charging $25 a

month for water you're not using, right along with the

mounting late fees. It doesn't take long for the city to

totally wreck a homeowner's finances, and for what? To

make sure they have the money to mow your grass if

it gets a little high while not 50 feet away the weeds

grow 6 feet tall on city property?

Yes, I confess to having some amount of desire for

destruction in my heart, probably the very same things

you want to see destroyed, while keeping the good

things we have. The trouble is that if my concern about

these things spilled over and people started voicing their

concerns in City Council meetings, the next rumor would

be, "Bill Vajk is inciting a riot."

Please, please, help get that rumor started!

====================================

The above was submited to the Iron County Reporter

and the Iron Mountain Daily News newspapers. On

Saturday, February 27, 2008, the Daily News published

my letter with a minor omission. The cut out the part about

6 foot weeds growing withn 50 feet on City property.

We'll know tomorrow how the Iron County Reporter felt

about it the letter.

Bill Vajk

Modification - March 3, 2009

Not too long after I arrived in Iron River I had a

discussion with Allyce Westphal, now the editor

of the Iron County Reporter. She told me she's

always looking for a well written piece.

While the Iron Mountain Daily News published

the above as an opinion letter, it was decided

"not fit to print" by the Iron County Reporter.

Well that came as no surprise. The Reporter

seems to be just as sensitive about criticism

of local governments as the elected officials

who are misbhaving.

The press needs to be independent to be

effective as one prong in the balance of

power between the people and the

government. Instead, it seems to me that

the local paper merely wants to be

profitable. That's par for the course in

Iron County, Michigan.

Bill Vajk

--

--

--