Heart wrenching apology

I am cross posting a comment from Bait.  It is a heart wrenching apology from one of Merlin Benner's former employees. 

Hello all, sorry to hear your deer. My position has just been terminated at Wildlife Specialists so I thought I could inform you of the absolute debacle and sickening display of so called professionalism from this company. I was apart of the job that only took 6 deer from your township. I would like to officially apologize to all residents whether you were for it or against it. What I was apart of will haunt me forever. I do hunt legally and feed my family by doing so but what WS did in your township was horrific and an absolute display of arrogance and should not represent real hunters. I witnessed 5/6 deer taken that year. I never once did any of the shooting bc I was against using a weapon I had no practice with. The so called "professional shooters" were definitely not trained nor professional. They are basically your average hunter with big heads and chips on their shoulders. On the very first night there were 11 shots fired for 3 deer in those stupid corrals. That was the most horrific thing I've ever witnessed in all my life. The first 3 shots were fired while Benner's little brother was literally saying "I can't see" and fired anyway. There should have been a law suit filed against that BS of a company. Only one deer was shot somewhat humanely where it only took one bullet but all the rest had to be shot twice or more. The memories will haunt me for the rest of my life and those responsible are not professional nor do they feel like they did anything wrong. I spoke up many times about it and have since spoke up about it and that is one reason I was terminated. It's a sad world we live in. Good luck Mt. Lebo, I feel for you and your deer. Again, I'm sorry for ever being apart of that and if I regret anything in life, it was working for that P.O.S. company.

An apology Dave Brumfield style

For the record, I had sent a link to Commissioner Fraasch last night concerning the VERY lewd and disgusting Twitter account. I heard nothing. I sent a second email to President Linfante's attention. I heard nothing. Of course. I then decided to see who was following this crude and hurtful Twitter account. Lo and behold, I sent a pdf to the Commission of the followers, with the note below about apples not falling far from the trees. I had also made a pdf of the Tweets. Suddenly, the account had been suspended.

Now, it appears to Commissioner Fraasch that I need to apologize to Dave, even though he will not accept it. Below is the email exchange with any references removed so that I don't get sued. 

So here is my apology, Dave Brumfield style. I apologize for using the word "apple."

From: David Brumfield <dbrumfield@mtlebanon.org>
To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Subject: Re: Twitter
Date: Wed, May 28, 2014 10:08 am 

This is the final straw. When I started on the Commission I tried to work with you. When it became clear that we did not share the same vision for Mt. Lebanon I tried to at least give you credit for your dedication to staying informed and informing others. As your tone became increasingly toxic and negative I tried to just leave you alone. You tell me you are ashamed, you ask me for my resignation and you claim that I ignore the residents who you believe you speak for. You are not Mt. Lebanon and I thank God for that. I would not want to live in a community that you were the voice of the majority. A community dominated by vile and hurtful negativity slung with little care for accuracy or understanding. A place where negative innuendo and accusation are more common than fact. A place where volunteers and well intentioned public servants are attacked mercilessly by faceless cowards hiding behind anonymity.
Even when a name is put to the attack as you have now it does done with knowledge that you are attacking people who will not stoop to your level. You have always known that none of the Commissioners would attack your ___, we would never consider it. Yet somehow you want to reference my ____'s conduct as something that _____ and I should be embarrassed about it. You must feel so smug knowing that you make such accusations with absolutely no fear of reprisals because even now I would never do such a thing. It is only due to the demand of my ___ that I even take the time to address you know. I suppose ___ still holds some hope that there is enough decency left in you to refrain from ever attacking a commissioner's ____ ever again. Unfortunately, I have given up any hope that is even possible. The pity I used to feel for you being so consumed by your negativity and hatred has been burned away by your recent personal attacks against Commissioner Linfante during her difficult time and this attack on my ____. 

Please understand, I am not asking for an apology, because I would not accept it. I will just not subject myself to you any more. I have not been on your blog in months but that has proven to not be enough. After conferring with the Solicitor to confirm that I have the right to do so I am blocking your emails from all of my accounts including my Mt. Lebanon account. I will not answer phone calls from you nor speak to you at any time. I will not address you or answer any of your questions during public comment. I will have nothing to do with you. Yet if I find that my ___ or ____ are ever mentioned, referenced or even linked to in any email, text, post or blog entry I will sue you without hesitation. I am a public figure so I am sure you will continue to attack me but whatever protection the law gives you to speak about me does not extend to my ___. 

David Brumfield 

On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 12:37 AM, 'egillen476@aol.com' via Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org> wrote: 

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it Dave? Your ___ is the first one listed.
Elaine

For some reason, I am the bad guy again. It doesn't matter how despicable the Tweets or that they were all listed anonymously. I made a pdf of the followers and suddenly, I am attacking Dave's ____. Who is protecting those poor victims mentioned in those hurtful and vile Tweets? I certainly tried to get help from the commissioners, but was ignored. It wasn't until I sent the pdf of the followers, that the account was suspended.

So here is my public apology, David Brumfield. I am sorry for using such an offensive word as apple. Why you were not offended by that now suspended Twitter account is puzzling. That is where the "hurtful negativity was slung." I am not even sure what I accused anyone of. Kelly, that is about as much of an apology that you're going to get from me. Of all the abuse that I get from Linfante and Brumfield publicly, and their supporters - through anonymous comments, that's all Brumfield is getting from me. Where are their apologies? I'm not holding my breath.

Kristen, when you say green spaces...

I was going through my files and found Kristen Linfante's first newsletter dated April 8, 2011, one month before the Primary. Yes, the Primary in which I lost to Joe DeIuliis. Kristen writes:

Public Spaces and our Environment—I will work to protect and
improve our parks and green spaces while seeking out grants and new  technologies that will make Mt. Lebanon even more energy-efficient AND cost-efficient.

Kristen's campaign website  Adding to our quality of life in Mt. Lebanon are vital and plentiful green spaces...

I guess I need to clarify something, Kristen. When you say "green spaces, " are you referring to the color green or are you speaking of natural grass? I still don't understand your position on this.

Looking through the stack of emails from my "Mother of All RTKs," I found some disturbing emails of statements that you made concerning the whole ESB commission liaison issue.

• 11/26/13 Day after the vote to turf Middle and Wildcat, Kristen emails John Bendel and Dave Brumfield at 8:02 AM with "I guess my recollection was wrong - but still not convinced - please read full thread
• This was after Kristen emailed Kathy Hrabovsky, head of the ESB, at 7:09 AM to let her know that they passed the proposal for turfing Middle and Wildcat.
• 7:41 AM, Kathy wishes she had stayed. She didn't realize that artificial turf was on the agenda.
• Here is what is really disturbing. Kristen "takes much stock in what Gillen has to say." (Just throwing in some humor.)
• From there, it starts to get ugly. Kelly calls Kristen on her lie. As one reader wrote in an earlier comment something to the effect of  We watched it. We heard it. We read it. 
• Kristen said a few times that she would apologize. Anyone hear it, read it or watch it?
• Finally, Kristen mailed the turf proposal to Kathy Hrabovsky on January 16, 2014.

So shame on us for not asking, Kristen. When you said "green spaces," did you mean organic toxic turf or synthetic toxic turf? By the way, how are those grants coming along?

April Fools from Google

Google Analytics sure fooled me! I was so excited to see The International Space Station Control Room was reading my blog last night and this morning!

With my heart racing, I did some searching online and found this article. April Fool's prank has International Space Station invading Google Analytics.  They got me!

Remember this from last year?  http://lebocitizens.blogspot.com/2012/04/exclusive.html Not much has changed.

Apology from the Commission

On behalf of the Commission, President Dave Brumfield issued an apology at last night's meeting over the launching of fireworks from Mt. Lebanon Cemetary on July 4, 2012.

Commission Apology

Exclusive!

The School Board has realized they caused the $1.9 million budget gap. The letter of apology from the school board president Josephine Posti, for the Board, can be found here.

No More Secrets

Highlights from last night's School Board meeting:

No more secrets.
Redesign.  No, rebid.  Board is divided.
Revisit Building C.  No, don't revisit Building C.  Board is divided.
Issues identified as to what went wrong.  No details as to what went wrong.  Still don't know.
Nothing decided.  Nothing voted on.
Usual abuse to CAC members.
Public apology from Dan Remely.

Podcast available here. 2011/5/2 Reconvened School Board Meeting

The Way Forward

The following letter, written by resident Steve Diaz, was sent to the School Board Directors on Apr 28, 2011 8:34 am.  It is being reprinted with Mr. Diaz' permission.

Members of the School Board:  In the midst of the din and disappointment over the bids received on "the new high school", it was a pleasure to see the board finally upset with its advisors, particularly Architect Celli, over the failure to accurately comprehend the likely range of project bids.  Most significant, to me, was the board president's cry that Mr. Celli's undisclosed list of 75 candidate reductions "should have been presented to the board a year ago."  Indeed they should.  But many suggestions from the CAC and others on such points were received by a stone ear, as the board was not really interested in such cuts.  One example arises in the LEEDS certification matter. This is a policy value of high significance in the community in Mt. Lebanon, one that was an essential element of the advocacy for the project (see your own brochure, written, printed and mailed to us at our own expense).  Now, Mr. Remely says that LEEDS certification is an easy take away--really?  The underlying issue with the effort to reform the bloated proposal that went out for bids (a rebuild, not a "renovation" project, if we are honest with ourselves) is that the credibility of the board is directly in issue. You seem to have lost your soul by suddenly now demanding answers to questions that you failed to address when the community, including a petition signed by 4,000 voters, asked you to do so. Question the LEEDS standards and the true returns for the cost?  That was deemed unreasonable and unacceptable by the board back during the Act 34 public hearings.  What else might be cut? The third gym? Mr. Remely went shouting after a Municipal Planning meeting that it was a mandatory element of the project to satisfy community demands.  The extra over-sized addition to the new pool?  Notwithstanding substantially decreasing student population trends, that has also been ridiculed as an absurd and miserly approach--the pool was even defended at the risk of not telling the truth when, contrary to published board policy, our superintendent told the Municipal Commission that parking was not in issue because the facility would definitely not be open to the public. Not tear down the newest building on campus?  This was also openly mocked when suggested to the board by the public on many occasions.  Given such items, what do you expect to see on Mr. Celli's obscure list of "75" reductions that might, at this time, have become acceptable (remember, you told the public that the project was as tight as it could be, with no fluff--again, see your own minutes, tapes of meetings, and your boastful brochure)?

The result of such behavior, your own unprompted but closely observed conduct and words, is that you seem to have slight regard for facts, and no actual plan or value other than spending as much money as you can without obtaining review from the voters. With such a decision process, no wonder you find yourselves confused and in disarray.  But on you push.  As Mr. Rothschild has insightfully observed, you cannot push on without completely re-scoping and re-conceiving the nature and the purpose of a "renovation."  It is time to show a modicum of humility and admit that the process has been badly mismanaged for a long time.  Admit that you have not listened to the people.  Admit that you may not be the right decision makers. Has it occurred to any of you who were so invested in the absolute correctness of the proposal that at this juncture you have had your turn at the wheel and perhaps it is time for you to voluntarily step down and allow new leadership to clean up and lead us forward?  Has it been worth all the damage and rift in this community you have caused by your intransigence, disrespect for public opinion and single-minded refusal to compromise, only to come to this juncture?  

It seems to me that a public apology is due from all of you to Mr. Fraasch for the manner in which you treated him.  It seems to me that a clear sign of new-found respect for the petition of 4,000 of your neighbors and constituents is also in order.  It also seems to me that any self-respecting board member with a sense of shame should be willing, publicly and voluntarily, to accept personal responsibility for what you and your policies have done.  Don't look to blame others, chosen by you in the first instance, for your own failures in formulating and achieving successful public policy.  Show true leadership and some measure of maturity---you have not succeeded, don't keep doing that which has not worked for any of us.  

Respectfully.  Steve Diaz