Eye On Englewood

Link: http://www.eyeonenglewood.com/

This month the Bookmeisters read John Hersey’s Pulitzer Prize winning book, “A Bell for Adano.”

A journalist covering World War II, Hersey witnessed first-hand elements of the war in Italy.

His book is set in a little fishing village called Adano, whose bell had been taken out of the bell tower and melted by the fascists for the purpose of making bullets.

Major J. sets about reading his “notes to self” when he arrives on the scene. He gives the town crier back his job, and the police chief, and orders the baker to start baking quality bread again.

He has been, behind the scenes, repeatedly advised simply to clean the streets, but leave the rest alone. But the Major is personally interested in both truth as he is integrity, and maybe he wants to make a name for himself.

He finds use for the sulfur plant in business and woos churlish fishermen to their fishing boats by providing them protection from bombs which had been planted in the bay.

One day the chief of police goes to the baker and takes his usual place in the front of the line. The women take issue with him, and a certain vocal peasant abuses the chief’s ego so badly that the chief drags the poor man by the ear, “arrested,” to Major J.

Major J. orders the peasant to respect authority and sends him back to the bread line.

Then, Major J. calls in all of the men to whom he had just granted jobs within his new democracy, and quietly explains what democracy means to him as an American.

Hersey's famous Major J. states, "democracy is a government of the people. It is the taxes of the people which pay the salaries of the government workers. The government workers are servants to the people, and servants do not push their employers out of line so that they may first be served bread."

Major J. tells these men, whom he has shown a particular political grace to by hiring them into the same jobs they enjoyed while serving the fascists; that in his form of government, these men will be happier than they have ever been in their lives.

To see how democracy works in the military possession of an Italian fisher village, or whether Adano gets it’s bell back, you will have to read this little page turner for yourself.

Link: http://englewoodstory.com

Perhaps Englewood, Colorado needs a Bill of Rights. There is nothing in the Englewood Charter or the City Ordinances or even the Municipal Court powers to protect the people. It is all wrapped up that the Executive branch, (Staff) the Legislative branch (Council) and the Judiciary (Court) protect the temporary powers, rather than the real residents and long term homeowners.

In a response from Carol Chamber's office of the Arapahoe County District Attorney determined that the word "may" found in the rules for how Englewood must operate determines the infinite leeway the City enjoys. It may, or it may not: completely within its discretion.

Everything in the City ordinances protects actions or omissions the City takes by the word, "may".

When it comes to ethical conflicts or the rights of the residents that employ this staff, the Charter and Code have determined that the residents have little to no opportunity to redress grievances, certainly no absolute right.

This issue can become a dramatic breech of trust between the City and a developer early on in the relationship between the parties given the following scenario.

Permit fees in the City are as arbitrary as they are indecent when a regular citizen who is in the dark as to contractor procedures applies for a permit or license with the City.

A Schedule of Fees associated with building permits in Englewood exists. However, Englewood records show it charged three times as much, a total of $2,990, ignoring the fee schedule which dictates a maximum of $999.00 for this structure's remodel fees.

The Building Department's reasoning? The structure's forecast appraisal totaled over $500,000 upon completion.

The project's owner complains, though, that they had already purchased the existing structure for $200.00 and only the appraised difference between the existing structure and the proposed structure should have been considered. It's a question of exact measurements, and the ability of the head clerk to add and subtract.

The city should have subtracted the present value of the home being incorporated into the final value.

Isn't this kind of public dealing called fraud? Getting something for nothing. Maybe it is only bad faith and unfair dealing.

In any case, there is no return of permit fees available in Englewood. Especially to those who actually rely on the law to defend themselves and make a scene. Especially then.

Some cities have incorporated a Developer's Bill of Rights. This idea protects developers as to vested interests in properties they have spent significant sums of time and money over.

But, what protects the actual constituency of Englewood voters? What holds the feet of their electorate representatives on Council to the fire?

A Bill of Rights would certainly do the trick. America's forefathers thought so, when they incorporated the Bill of Rights to the Constitution, and even the pilgrims to incorporating the state of Colorado believed the same so as to develop another famous Bill of Rights specific to Colorado. But, the Home Rule City of Englewood has kept all the power to themselves. And, yet, isn't this is the legal definition of "arbitrary power"?

Arbitrary power is the kind of political power that is based on whims of those temporarily in charge, apart from measurable, objective limitations of law, and the absolute right of redress.

In the 2009 November elections, the people of Englewood will be presented with an opportunity to even the weights of power on the scales of justice. They will be presented with an opportunity to enact a Bill of Rights and their own form of personal homeowner immunity for groundless or malicious acts of the City of Englewood against them.

It will paint a significant stroke to a beautiful sunrise in Englewood's currently repressed horizon.