Tuesday night, October 13th, Councilman West gave this speech to the New Haven City Council and those attending. I thought it was a brave and outstanding speech and wanted to post it where people who were not at the meeting could read it. Hopefully it will make some of our readers think a little. Thanks for letting us publish this Harold. - Craig


  First of all, for the first time in my life I will say that, if I offend anyone by what follows in this statement; I will have achieved my goal. I am also for the first time, reading a written statement. Normally, I speak without notes or even outlines. However, in this case, I have thought much about this and want to make sure that each and every point is covered.

  Since I became a member of this Council in 2001, I have repeatedly and publicly stated how proud I am to be involved in a municipal government that is so open to public input and participation. I have stated that we can disagree and debate in this chamber and walk away friends and neighbors. I have believed in the fact that all who are here have the best interests of this community at heart. As was once said, “I may not agree with what you say but, I will defend to the death your right to say it!” It is that kind of respect for one another that makes the difference between a community and a political entity.

  There is nothing wrong with holding strong, passionate views on any issue. This great country was built on the ability of the people to challenge the path government takes. However, when our passion is driven by egos, anger, or a desire to control through power, it is no longer a constructive exercise of political rights - it is destructive to all that this country stands for and to the very rights that some people use to demand that their side of an issue prevails. In fact, whenever we decide that the ends justify the means, we are adopting the very sentiment of those who are enemies of our precious freedoms.

  The Jury Pool debate is one of those issues we have struggled with that has fostered strong feelings on both sides. After much open and heated debate, several plans and proposals scrutinized, this body narrowly did not approve the project citing, in part to the lack of strong public support. The project was brought back to this community and this body was criticized for not taking action to vote again on this project even through the remonstrance process had begun.

  I stated that I believed another vote on our part was a waste of time. I stated that this was now “In the hands of the people”. The remonstrance process should have be democracy in its’ finest hour. Both sides presenting their cases and the people decided the fate of the issue by voting through petition for or against the project.

  When I saw the signs starting to go up, I wondered about the placement of some that I saw. When I put a political sign in my yard, it’s in my yard and there is no question where I stand. I saw many signs that were right by the street and I wondered if they were placed there by the homeowner or if they were actually placed in the right of way or easement to give the appearance that the homeowner placed it there. I dismissed this as insignificant.

  However, it has since become apparent that there are those who are driven by ego, anger, or a thirst for power to believe that the ends do justify the means when it comes to insuring that their side prevails. I was amazed that some seem to have spent more money trying to defeat the project than the taxes they would have spent for several years. It was harder to dismiss the facts when I learned that signs were being stolen. It was impossible to dismiss when the signs now being used by the opponents to this project said, “Vote Blue For Our Pool”, or “Save Jury Pool – Vote Blue”. At the least, this is an attempt to cloud the issue and at the worst, it is out and out deception and fraud. For them to claim innocence in this is to claim ignorance that I, for one, am not buying!

  These things, along with stories of people being pressured to sign petitions, people gathering petitions on parking lots and then complaining to the management when persons from the other side show up, or persons being told that they will get information on the pool issue if they sign the petition. These tactics bring shame upon those who perpetrated these deeds and the entire New Haven Community.

  I am now given to understand that there is a possibility that, due to the tactics used, there may be a challenge to some of the signatures obtained, meaning that, instead of the issue being decided democratically within our community, it may be decided in a courtroom in Fort Wayne. This issue will once again just drag on and on. And, no matter which side prevails, there will always be a cloud of doubt over the legitimacy of the outcome and a rift in this community that may never be healed.

  As disturbing as that is to me, the thing that brings me to express my outrage today is that this is an insult to our founding fathers and the many who have sacrificed so much to give us the freedoms that some would abuse. If we do not treasure our liberties enough to keep these Democratic processes fair for all sides, we stand to lose those freedoms and perhaps, we deserve to lose them.

  I do not want (nor do I expect) an apology or an explanation from either side. If you are guilty of any of these acts (no matter which side of this issue you are on) you should go to the nearest cemetery where there is a veteran’s section. You need to look up and down those long rows and explain it or apologize to them. When they gave their all for our freedom, I don’t think this is what they believed they were fighting for.

  Now, no matter who wins on the issue of Jury Pool, we have all lost. If we cannot trust our fellow citizens to stand beside us and protect our rights even when we disagree, we will find it hard to stand together on anything. How can we press forward towards the dream of a someday having a community center when we have lost all sense of community? How can we move forward and build leaders for tomorrow when the actions of a few drive people away from the political process instead of encouraging them to participate.

  I wonder if, during the remainder of my term on this body, I will be tempted to weigh another factor when making decisions. Do I need to consider whether or not a few vocal dissenters or supporters of an issue will cause further divisiveness in this city? Should I have to consider that the damage that may result from their actions is not worth the risk?

  Thirty years ago, you could barely get me to vote – let alone run for public office. As a young man I saw, first hand, politics at its’ worst. I saw the use of deception, fear mongering, and dirty tactics by people who I believed were my leaders. It was many years before I came to the conclusion that it was easy to sit on the outside and criticize. I came back to the system hoping that I could make a difference in some small way.

  Indeed, those of us who hold elective office should have our feet “held to the fire” when we fail to keep our actions honorable. However, the system cannot succeed unless all of us, who treasure freedom and love our country, conduct our nation’s, our state’s, and our city’s business with the honor and dignity they deserve.

  Sadly, the conduct of a few people has corrupted this remonstrance process. A process that is closest to a referendum to decide an issue that has been heavily debated. Regardless of the final result, the finger pointing and complaining will go on for a long time in the future. Pool or no pool – nobody is going to win!! I am afraid that the damage done by a few people who have no respect for the rights of those who disagree with them will haunt the City of New Haven for a long time.

  Soon, someone else will occupy this seat. I pray that they will find the community that I found when I first came to the Council. A community that treats each other with respect. A community where disagreements end in handshakes and pats on the back. A community where dissent and debates will be settled at the ballot box at the end of a fair and open campaign.
  I ask everyone on both sides of this issue to examine carefully their role in all of this. Did you keep your part of the pledge that was made in this very room a short time ago that this would be a fair campaign? Did you do your part to give out the facts with honesty and integrity? And, most of all, what can I do now to pull this city back together?

  The future of the City of New Haven does not rest on whether or not there is a pool in Jury Park or anywhere else in the city. The future of this city is in our hands. That awesome responsibility falls not just on the persons seated up here – everybody had better commit themselves now to make that future brighter. If we can’t stand together and honor our differences – that future is going to be pretty bleak. Our children will be leading us into the future. What example have we set for them?

  Finally, thanks to those on both sides who conducted themselves in a fair and honest manner. Thank you for your contribution and service to this community.

  And, to the Park Board – if the blue team prevails on this issue, I would again encourage you to seriously consider the permanent closure of Jury Pool. One year, two years, or even longer from now, this issue will be just as divisive and those who have opposed it now will be even further fueled in their objections by the costs which will surely be much higher no matter what form the project takes. In the meantime, the pool property will continue to be a drain on resources and could very well become an eyesore.

Harold E. West
New Haven City Council President