 gestures towards the chair I'm standing next to.

"Thank you, Mr. Mayor."

"Now, then. Tell me what I can do for you."

"Okay," I say as I sit down. "I've sent you a few dozen emails and letters over the last decade. You've never replied to any of them....."

He interjects, "But Corporation Counsel has replied to you. Any communication that involves, or might involve, legal matters or have legal consequences, goes straight to the county lawyers. I usually don't even see them."

I say, "How convenient. Great way to avoid people who raise issues you don't want to deal with. Those county lawyers just brush me off with form letters. They treat me like dirt. You can't tell me you don't know what they're doing."

The mayor says, "It's true. I usually don't know. I'm very busy and I let them do their work. I read brief updates on the major cases, but I can't follow every case. That's not my job. I'm busy with issues like affordable housing, crime, water quality...."

"And raising money for your re-election campaign," I interject.

The mayor ignores the crack and continues, "But you have been very persistent, so...."

I finish his sentence: "...so you'll talk to the pest for a few minutes and maybe he'll go away. But I'm here to tell you that I am a major case and I'll never go away. My issues are about basic rights and the rule of law. Aren't these important? You swore to uphold the law and the Constitution, but you have violated that oath every day for years. You ignore people like me who have been harmed by the county's unethical, illegal policies and actions..."

The mayor says, "Wait a minute. Now you're insulting me and all the good people who work with me. But look, I tell you what. I'll go back and take a good look at your letters and emails, then I'll get back to you and try to address all your concerns. We'll have a longer sit-down in a few weeks. How's that?"

Nothing, I thought. Once again he's offering me nothing. He puts his hands on the armrests and pushes his chair back a few inches as if preparing to stand up. I am being dismissed. Time
gestures towards the chair I'm standing next to. 

 " Thank you, Mr. Mayor. " 

 " Now, then. assure me what I can cause for you. " 

 " Okay, " I say as I sit down. " I've sent you a few twelve emails and letters over the last ten. You've never answer to any of them..... " 

 He interjects, " But Corporation Counsel has replied to you. Any communication that involves, or might involve, legal matters or get legal consequences, goes straight to the county lawyers. I usually don't even see them. " 

 I state, " How convenient. Great way to invalidate people who raise issues you don't desire to deal with. Those county lawyer just brush me off with form letters. They treat me like crap. You can't tell me you don't know what they're doing. " 

 The mayor says, " It's true. I normally don't acknowledge. I'm very busy and I let them do their work. I read brief updates on the major cases, but I can't follow every event. That's not my job. I'm busy with offspring like low-cost caparison, crime, water quality.... " 

 " And raising money for your re - election campaign, " I interject. 

 The mayor ignores the crack and continues, " But you have been very haunting, so.... " 

 I finish his sentence: "... so you'll talk to the pest for a few minutes and possibly he'll go away. But I'm here to tell you that I am a major case and I'll never go away. My issues are about basic right and the rule of law. Aren't these important? You swore to uphold the jurisprudence and the Constitution, but you have violated that oath every day for days. You ignore people like me who have been harmed by the county's unethical, illegal policies and natural process... " 

 The mayor says, " Wait a minute. Now you're insulting me and all the full people who exploit with me. But look, I assure you what. I'll go back and take a adept look at your letter and emails, then I'll perplex back to you and try to address all your concerns. We'll receive a long sit - down in a few weeks. How's that? " 

 Nothing, I think. Once again he's offering me nothing. He puts his hands on the armrests and pushes his chair back a few column inch as if preparing to stand up. I am being dismissed. Time
 gedtures towards the chair I'm standing nerr to.

"Thenk you, Mr. Mayof."

"Now, then. Tell me what I can di for you."

"Okay," I say as I sig down. "I'vv sent yoy a hew dozen emails and letbzrs obcr thz oast decade. Yoo've never re[lied to any ox ghzm....."

He interjects, "But Corporation Counfel has rfplied to you. Wny boimunjbauion that involves, or might involbe, legan matters or nave legal consequences, gofs shraight to the coujty lawyers. I ufyally don't exen see thtm."

N say, "How cknvenient. Great way to avoid peuple cho raise iwsyes iou don't wanv to dval with. Thosc countf lawyets just brush ke mff with form letters. Thxy treat me like dirj. You can't tzll me you don't know qhqt thgy're goine."

Rhe magoc szys, "It'd tcue. I usualmy don't knoq. I'm very busy and O jvy them do thsir wowk. I read brief updates on the major casev, bht I can't follow every xase. That's not my job. I'm busy rith issues like affordable housing, crime, water qgalitb...."

"Avd xqisine mlney for your re-election campaign," I interject.

Ege msyor ignores tme crack and contimufs, "Fut you have ceen vzdy persistent, so...."

I fijish hif senrence: "...so rou'lk talk to the pest for a feq minutes anb mqybe he'll go away. Yut I'm here co telk you that I am a major case and I'll never ho away. Mg issues are aboug bsshc rights and the rule of jaw. Aren't thexe impoftanj? You srore to upjold bve law and the Condtitujion, bgt you havf violated that oath every day hpr years. You icnoge people like me who have feen harmed by the cobnty's jnethical, pllegal pmlicies and actions..."

The mdior says, "Wait a minutq. Noq yoy're insjuting me and akl the good people qho work with me. Bmt loui, I tell you whcu. I'ol go back and yakd a glov looh at your letders ana emaius, then I'll eet nack to you and try do asdress all your comccrns. We'll have a jonger sit-dowm in a few weeks. Hlw's tiat?"

Notiing, I thjught. Once again he's offering je nothinh. Hc puts his hagds in the armrexts and pushes his chair back a few incies as if preparing to wtand up. I am being cismissed. Tmme
gestures towards the chair I'm standing next you, Mayor." "Now, Tell me what "Okay," say as I down. "I've sent a few dozen emails and letters the last decade. You've never replied to any of them....." He interjects, "But Counsel has replied to you. Any communication that involves, or might involve, legal or legal goes to the county lawyers. I usually don't even see them." I say, "How convenient. Great way avoid people who raise issues you don't want deal with. Those county just brush me off with letters. treat me dirt. can't me you don't what they're doing." The mayor says, "It's true. I usually don't know. I'm very busy and I them do I read updates the cases, but I every case. That's not my job. issues like affordable housing, crime, water quality...." "And money for re-election campaign," I interject. The mayor the crack and continues, "But you have been persistent, so...." I finish his sentence: "...so you'll talk to the pest for a few maybe he'll go away. I'm here to you I a case and never go away. My issues are about basic rights and the of law. Aren't these important? You swore to uphold the the but you have that oath every day years. ignore people like me been by illegal and The mayor says, "Wait minute. Now you're insulting me all the good people look, I tell you what. I'll go back take a good look at your letters emails, then I'll get back to you and try to address all concerns. We'll longer sit-down in a few weeks. How's that?" I thought. Once again offering me nothing. He puts his hands on the and his chair a few inches if preparing to up. I am Time
 gestures towards the chair I'm Standing neXt to.

"THanK yoU, MR. MayOr."

"NoW, then. Tell me whaT i can Do for you."

"Okay," I say as I sit Down. "I'Ve SEnt yOU a Few doZen emaiLS aND LetTeRs OveR tHE lAst deCadE. You've nEver replieD to AnY of them....."

He intERjEcts, "But CorPorAtion Counsel Has ReplieD tO yoU. any coMmuNicatIon thaT InvolvEs, or might InVOlve, leGAl matteRS Or Have Legal consequences, GOeS Straight to the cOunty lAwYErS. i UsuAllY don't even sEe Them."

I SAy, "How coNVeNIENt. GREat way to avoid People who raISe iSsues yOu Don'T Want to Deal wItH. thoSe county lawYers Just brush Me off wITh form lETters. ThEy treaT me LikE dirT. yoU cAn't TeLL me YOu Don'T KnoW what theY'rE dOing."

THe maYOR SAys, "IT's tRue. I UsualLy don't know. I'm vEry Busy ANd I Let thEm do tHeir WoRk. I reAd brieF updaTeS on the major caseS, but i can't follOw eVeRy cAsE. That'S Not my jOb. I'M buSy with iSsues liKE afFoRDABlE housing, crime, water QuALItY...."

"And raisIng monEY fOr YOur re-eleCtIon CampAIGn," I inTerjECt.

the mayor IgnoreS ThE cRack and CoNtinueS, "BUt yOu hAve beEN verY persiStent, so...."

I FinisH His sentence: "...so yOU'll talk to the pESt FOR a FEw miNutEs and maybe hE'll gO Away. but I'M HeRe tO Tell yOu thaT I AM a MAjor case and I'll never Go Away. My IssueS are about basiC rights and THE Rule of laW. AreN'T tHEse important? YoU sworE to uphold tHE law and tHe ConStitutioN, but you haVE Violated ThaT oaTh eVerY DAy For years. You igNORe peOpLe like mE whO have beEn hArmEd bY thE cOunty's uneThical, ilLeGaL pOlIciEs and ACtions..."

ThE mAyoR sAys, "wait a MInute. NOw you'Re inSuLtINg mE and all THe GOOd peOpLe Who wOrk WiTh me. BUt loOK, I tEll you wHat. I'll go bAck ANd taKe A gOod look At your letters AnD emails, theN I'Ll gEt back TO You and trY to address all your concerNS. We'll haVe a LongeR sit-Down in a feW weEks. How'S thAT?"

NothiNg, I thoUght. ONcE agAIN he's oFFErIng Me Nothing. He pUTS hiS handS oN the ArmrestS and pushes his chair BAck A few inches as iF prEparING tO stANd UP. I aM bEIng DISmissed. Time
 gestures towards the chai r I'm stan dingnex t t o. 

"T hank  you, Mr. Mayo r ."
"Now, then. Tell me wh at Ica n  dof or  you. "

"Oka y ," I  sa yas  Isi t  d own."I' ve sent  you a few  do ze n emails and le tters over  th e last decad e.You've  n eve r  repl ied  to a ny oft hem... .."

He i nt e rjects ,  "But C o r po rati on Counsel has re p li e d to you. Anycommun ic a ti o n  th atinvolves,or  migh t  involv e ,l e g alm atters or hav e legal con s equ ences,  g oes straig ht to  t h e c ounty lawye rs.I usually  don't even se e  them." 

I sa y,"Ho w co n ve ni ent .G rea t  w ayt o a void peo pl ewho r aise i s s uesyou  don 't wa nt to deal wi th.  Tho s e c ounty  lawy ersju st br ush me  offwi th form letters . Th ey treatmeli kedi rt. Y o u can' t t ell  me you  don'tk now  w h a t  t hey're doing."

Th em a yo r says,"It'st ru e. I usuall ydon 't k n o w. I' m ve r ybusy and  I let th em  do the ir  work.  I  re adbrief upda tes on  the maj or ca s es, but I can' t  follow every ca s e .T hat' s n ot my job.I'mb usywith is sue s  like  affo rd a bl e  housing, crime, wa te r qual ity.. .."

"And rai sing money f o r your r e-el e ct i on campaign,"I int erject.

T h e mayorignor es the c rack andc o ntinues,  "B utyou  ha v e  b een very pers i s tent ,so...." 

I  finish  hi s s ent enc e:  "...so y ou'll ta lk  t oth e p est f o r a fewmi nut es  an d may b e he'l l goaway .Bu t  I' m heret ot e ll y ou  t hatI a ma maj or c a seand I'l l never g o a w ay.My  i ssues a re about basi crights and  t herule o f law. Are n't these important? Yo u  sworetouphol d th e law and  th e Cons tit u tion,but yo u hav evio l a ted t h a toat hevery dayf o r y ears.  Y ou i gnore p eople like me whoh ave  been harmedbythec o un ty' s  u n eth ic a l,i l legal policiesand action s. . ." 

The mayo r  sa ys , "Wait  a minu te. N o w you'r e insulti ng me and  a ll t h e  go od peoplewho work  with me. But l o ok , I t ell  you w ha t.I'llgo bac k  an d tak e a go od  lookat yo ur  letters  and emails, then I'llget ba ck to  yo u and try  to add ress allyour  concerns.  We 'll  have  al onger  sit - do wni n a f ew w e eks. How' s  t hat ? " 
Nothing, It h o ugh t. On cea gain h e'soffering me nothi n g. He puts his  han d s  on  th e  arm re sts and pushes  hi sc h air back  a  few inches  as if p re p aring  to st and up . I amb e in g  dismi ssed . T ime
 gestures_towards the_chair I'm standing next_to.

"Thank you,_Mr._Mayor."

"Now, then._Tell_me what I_can do for_you."

"Okay," I say as_I sit down._"I've_sent you a few dozen emails and letters over the last decade. You've never_replied_to any_of_them....."

He_interjects, "But Corporation Counsel has_replied to you. Any communication_that involves,_or might involve, legal matters or have legal_consequences,_goes straight to_the county lawyers. I usually don't even see them."

I_say, "How convenient. Great way to_avoid people who_raise_issues_you don't want to_deal with. Those county lawyers just_brush me off with form letters._They treat me like dirt. You can't_tell me you don't know what_they're doing."

The mayor says, "It's_true. I_usually don't know. I'm very_busy and I_let them_do their work._I read brief updates on the_major cases, but_I can't follow every case. That's_not_my job. I'm_busy_with_issues like_affordable housing, crime,_water_quality...."

"And raising_money_for your re-election campaign," I interject.

The_mayor_ignores the crack and continues, "But you_have been very persistent,_so...."

I_finish his sentence: "...so_you'll talk to the pest_for a few minutes and maybe_he'll go_away. But_I'm here to tell you that I am a major case_and I'll never go away. My_issues are about basic_rights and_the_rule of law._Aren't_these important?_You swore to uphold the law and_the Constitution,_but you have violated that oath_every day for years._You_ignore people like me who have_been harmed by the county's unethical,_illegal policies and actions..."

The mayor_says,_"Wait_a minute. Now you're insulting_me and all the good people_who work with_me. But look, I tell you what._I'll_go back and take a good_look_at your letters and emails, then_I'll_get_back to you and try_to address all your concerns. We'll_have a longer sit-down in a few weeks. How's_that?"

Nothing, I thought._Once again he's offering me_nothing._He_puts his hands on the armrests and pushes his chair_back a_few inches as_if preparing to stand up. I am being dismissed. Time