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Ron Jackson's Perspective
The Sunday Journal -
Think
Kankakee, Illinois
April 3, 2005
Bubba is sorry |
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"I'm
sorry." We hear famous people use those words all the time.
When politicians like former President Bill Clinton, former
Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, or former Congressman Mel
Reynolds say it, it makes one wonder how sincere they are.
A local politician has publicly rendered an apology,
and I wonder how sincere he is. Kankakee 1st Ward Alderman
James "Bubba" Cox has apologized to a group of Kankakee City Police
Department employees. Of course it took a $36 million lawsuit
and an unpublicized settlement to coax the words from Cox.
Alderman Cox didn't apologize for missing a meeting,
for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle or for refusing to have
auto insurance. Cox apologized for intentionally, repeatedly
and wantonly publicizing unsubstantiated, ridiculous claims against
some of our city's finest servants, our police department.
Bubba Cox was elected to conduct himself in a
responsible manner and to govern in the best interest of a deserving
constituency. However, since he has been in office, he has
made several unconfirmed accusations against 36 current and former
police employees. Cox's public soapbox has mainly consisted of
claims of police misconduct, but he also made allegations that some
officers were racist and drug dealers.
As an alderman, Cox has a direct relationship with the
police. The city council and police department share the same
building. One would think communication between the two
parties would be simple. But when one party communicates with
a bullhead and a bullhorn, there is no dialogue. Cox took his
personal battle to the Illinois State's Attorney's Office and the
streets, even holding a press conference in front of his home.
After facing a lawsuit he couldn't win, Bubba wants to
say "I'm sorry;" and he probably expects us to believe him.
Just what is he really sorry about? Is he sorry for the
division he has created in this community? Is he sorry for the
humiliation he has cast upon our police force? Is he sorry for
the irreparable damage he may have caused to the reputations of some
of the individuals? Is he sorry for the cost to the taxpaying
citizens of Kankakee who will ultimately have to pay part of his
"secret" settlement?
The city's liability insurance will cover part of his
settlement. That is government waste at its worst. At a
time when we should be enjoying the city's rebound from near
financial ruin of just a few years ago, we have to bear the
responsibility for paying for Cox's stupidity. His constant,
destructive actions were personal, disguised as actions on behalf of
constituents. That's money that could have been better spent
providing services to the public. Cox alone conducted himself
in a manner unbecoming an elected official. Therefore, he
alone should pay the entire lawsuit.
During a recent Kankakee candidates' forum, the two
contestants running for alderman of the 1st ward were asked what
they would do to improve the conditions that have existed for quite
some time in their district. Both candidates mentioned
security and property value appreciation and stressed the importance
of education and other youth concerns. Neither candidate
mentioned that the ability or inability to work to overcome the
unproductive conduct of Alderman Cox was a concern.
I agree Bubba is sorry. He is a sorry example of
a government representative. He is a sorry tax-wasting elected
official. He is just sorry. Is he sorry enough to stop
him from mounting another smut campaign against anyone else without
the benefit of facts?
I'm sorry. I don't think he is. |
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