Why is it always the protesters' fault?

Yesterday's Trib published a letter submitted by Mt. Lebanon resident, Harvey Bower called, Mt. Lebanon residency embarrassing. Mr. Bower, a Republican turned Democrat, questioned the competency of his party by writing:

Our commissioners, after years of ignoring the problem, can't even get the deer culling right. Who hires a company that needs 11 shots to kill three deer at close range? Most hunters would only need three shots (even at 50 yards). 

Did anybody think to do their due diligence? 

But then, Mr. Bower resorted to blaming protesters for the flubbed attempt to cull the deer population.*

And after this company started the process, our commissioners allowed protesters, one of whom compared the culling to the Holocaust, to break the law by disrupting the process.

Mr. Bower, just as it is your right to submit a letter of opinion to the newspaper, it is also our right to protest. It is not that the commissioners were "allow[ing] protesters," The United States Constitution explicitly provides for "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" in the First Amendment. How is having three peaceful protests in front of the Municipal Building and one on Connor Road disrupting the process? If one protester compared the culling to the Holocaust, that is not breaking the law OR disrupting the process.

You said it yourself that Wildlife Specialists needed 11 shots to kill three deer at close range. This company blamed the ammunition, the number of shooters authorized by the PA Game Commission, the weather, the protesters, vandalism, and a police car scaring away deer. The only ones they didn't blame were themselves.

I participated in three of the protests. We never went beyond the No Trespassing signs. We helped clean up the mess that the contractor left behind. We followed the rules and for that we have people like Mrs. Logan, Dr. Narey, Mr. Bower, Ms. Linfante, Ms. Vipperman and others calling us liars and vandals, criticizing the way we are dressed, and blaming us for Benner's failures. We were the ones stopped by police for walking near parks or through church parking lots on sunny Sunday afternoons. We have been treated like criminals. We were silenced. We were treated rudely by the commissioners and staff. Will we ever get apologies? No. Will the commissioners admit that they screwed up? Never. Our commissioners have divided our town. The commissioner leading the charge, resigned as promised to her colleagues, once she got her cull. Mr. Bower, the commissioners should be the ones who are embarrassed. They are the ones governing Mt. Lebanon. They allowed this to happen. They are the ones to blame.

 *'Deer-proofing' expert to offer lessons in Mt. Lebanon

Parent offended by article in The Devil's Advocate UPDATED

I uploaded the podcast from last night's school board meeting. The last seven minutes or so, during Citizens' Comments, Suzy Harouse, from Cedar Blvd., confronted the school board about a highly offensive article published in the student newspaper, "The Devil's Advocate." I do not have a copy of the newspaper, but if a reader would send me a copy, I can post it here.

Ms. Harouse went on to say that after checking with administrators in our district, as well as other districts, that they too, found it offensive. Dr.Timmy was surprised that this parent had received a copy of his email concerning this situation, one that was sent at 2:00 AM. He was also offended by this woman's comment. Both he and President Elaine Cappucci said that it was the student's right under the First Amendment.

Funny how I just approved a link/comment about The First Amendment, under Mt. Lebanon Magazine Sued Updated 2X.

October 22, 2013 8:39 PM Devils' Advocate article is here.
Suzy Harouse's comment is available here.

Our School Board Would Never Do This

Since the following news item had been sent to me by multiple readers, I thought it would be interesting to post the article on Lebo Citizens.

State lawmaker acknowledges making anonymous online posts, apologizes

Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, attacked constituents, who support shale-gas drilling in Washington, anonymously online.

“It was a shock that he would go to this, (that) a public official who's an educated man would go to this depth of harassing people when he doesn't have to.

“He can debate and have his opinion. And he doesn't have to bash his constituents.”

White's statement:

These attacks have included anonymous or fictitious posts on various websites,” White, 34, said in an emailed statement. “On occasion, I have exercised my First Amendment rights and responded in kind, which was an error in judgment that I regret.

“To be clear, I did not use government resources while posting comments on these sites.”

Here in Mt. Lebanon, we know our school board would never do this. Elaine Cappucci has told me flat out at a budget meeting that she has no desire to write on my blog. In a phone call to me, Mary Birks said that she works full time and doesn't have the time or the desire to read my blog. Of course, the heaviest blog traffic is during work hours on weekdays.  Certainly Central Administration would never read this blog, let alone post on it. Even our Municipal and District public information officers, would never post anonymously.