By Les Greenberg
Re “Response to Noonan’s Non-Sense”
Ari Noonan, you do not understand that the Farragut Drive residents are not asking the City Council to do anything. The Grace Lutheran Church wants something, and thus must prove its case. It has not yet shown that it has any parking problem. Yet any parking problem supposedly has been caused by Farragut. Can you tell me one problem? Just one.
We do not interfere with any of the church’s 49-weekly activities. But the church covets Farragut.
A conflict of interest might arise in trying to serve two masters — the community in general vs. receipt of personal benefits, e.g., future or past political assistance.
There is a big difference between making a small monetary campaign contribution or endorsement, which an elected official may not even recall, and rendering significant participatory assistance.
“Toothpick thin” means no need to recuse.
Further, no one asked the mayor to bring any proposal before the City Council. The church made no attempt to recuse the mayor as it has no grounds for doing so. On the other hand, the Smiths-church-Councilman Andy Weissman relationship is substantial and longstanding.
Mr. Weissman should have made the disclosure whether a direct question was asked or not. He is an attorney who plays in the bigs. He knows the rules. Failure to answer a direct question only enhances the offense.
The mayor has not “advocated on behalf of the Farragut residents.” She did her duty as an unconflicted Councilperson. You assume a fact not in evidence — that she even remembers who each of her numerous endorsers was. I bet that Mr. Weissman remembers who threw his campaign kick-off party and traveled with him.
Mr. Greenberg may be contacted at plgreen@att.net
