Women, mothers, sisters and daughters, as well as those who identify as women, are heartbroken and appalled at the allegations facing a member of the Cambridge City Council.
In this country, state and city, everyone is innocent until proven guilty unless race, gender and economic status filter into the course of justice.
Thank you to the Cambridge city councillors who have the courage to stand upon their oath of office and have communicated their position to the members of our community regarding the tragic abuse of women and girls.
When will all the names and photographs of the alleged perpetrators be released to the public?
I understand that a performance evaluation for city managers is being considered for our city under a new charter plan. May I suggest a performance evaluation for council members as well?
Disparities in the behavior of public servants who become politicians are not new to our city, our state, or even our country. What is troubling is how routinely some members of the elected community, despite privilege, power and authority, abuse the same without regard to the individual, the community and the office of trust held.
I often say that one should not strive for perfection; one should strive for excellence. One is attainable; one is not.
Valerie Bonds, Memorial Drive, Cambridge
A stronger
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Performance Review in American Democracy is something that is supposed to be achieved by the Press (or in the courts in the case of criminal behavior). The Press informs the public what is known and the public decides based on the information that comes from the Press and the Courts whether the politicians stay in office. Unelected officials are left to serve based on the elected officials. So I’m not sure what the title is intended to ask…
I perform a performance review of every councilor in the weeks before a city council election. Any attempt to take that away from voters would be wrong.
Names and photographs of **alleged** perpetrators should generally not be released to the public. Most alleged perpetrators are guilty, but many are innocent.
An allegation is not a conviction, and mob justice is generally not justice.
I can make whatever allegations I want about you; anyone can. Do you want people to act on those allegations? Or would you like an opportunity to defend yourself with things like evidence and due process?
I’m much more frightened by the willingness (on all sides of the political spectrum) to put aside democratic checks-and-balances and due process than I am by (our relatively low levels of) crime.