By Roger Lanse
At the Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, Silver City Town Meeting, District 3 Councilor Jose Ray Jr. addressed the issue of a Confederate flag being displayed on a side-by-side at the recent Silver City Lighted Christmas Parade. Ray was the sponsor of proposed ordinances to allow side-by-sides on town streets which council twice failed to approve.
Ray said, “I don’t want to offend anybody, but we had an incident. Somebody took a flag and I didn’t know anything about it. I got called on Sunday morning and they expected me to know what went down. My response to it was I’m going to take responsibility for it because I didn’t know what was happening. If I offended anybody, or if our group offended anybody, please accept my apologies. Because we had no idea what was going on. On the other side of the thing is – this is part of history. It’s history maybe we don’t want to remember, but it’s part of history.
“Every civilization,” Ray continued, “Including Mexicans, Americans – you name it – Indians, we have all suffered some sort of retaliation by each other. We live in a society now that we want to cutthroat everybody, and we do. If I would’a known that this person was going to be doing this I would have said something. I don’t think I would have said you can’t allow it. I’m in no position to tell them what’s right and what’s wrong. That’s up to the individual. This flag may offend somebody. To me it does not offend – it’s just a flag. We complain about a lot of things, but yet there’s people out in America that burn the American flag and nothing is ever said about it. Nothing. Now would people be offended if we were to fly a Mexican flag, or a Japanese flag, or any other flag?
“I had a conference with Charlene (Grant County Manager) today,” Ray went on, “And I explained to her what I was going to say today and I hope the people accept my apology for what happened. It’s not our intent to do something like that. It’s never our intent. The results on social media that there go those guys on the side-by-sides doing their own thing. We didn’t. I thought it went well. I got a call on Sunday, and I think it was blown out of proportion by the news media. They could have said something nicer about it with a different headline. That’s just the way it is. And, again, thank you guys (Town Manager Alex Brown, Assistant Town Manager James Marshall, and Police Chief Freddy Portillo) for allowing us to do it.”
District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano remarked that users of social media in this holiday season seem to be unusually cruel to each other, especially to town employees. She asked those users to display a little kindness.
District 1 Councilor Cynthia Bettison complimented the military color guard at the lighted parade, saying, “it was especially nice.”
Portillo reported to council that so far this year, 45 citations have been issued for texting while driving violations, while 8 have been issued since Oct. 1 for uncovered load infractions.
Bettison stated that the hands free ordinance is difficult to enforce in marked patrol cars since the offender simply drops the phone when a law enforcement unit is seen. Portillo said his department is still brainstorming ways to overcome this. Portillo offered they are receiving grant money to use for selective traffic enforcement which the department can apply toward the hands-free ordinance.
Portillo continued by warning residents thefts are on the rise as they usually are during the holiday season. He asked people to keep doors and windows locked even if you’re only going to be gone for a few minutes and to keep packages and valuables out of sight in vehicles. Have a trusted neighbor pick up packages delivered to your door, he suggested. He also stated that they are trying to push more drug activity and firearm possession cases to federal agencies which have stiffer penalties.
Brown reported their ICIP priorities this year are a $400,000 request to complete construction of the concession stand and bathrooms at Scott Park, $400,000 for right-of-way acquisition on Little Walnut Road, and $150,000 for sidewalks on Little Walnut Road.
Brown also explained what has been going on with the sanitation services that has residents complaining. Basically, Brown said they are short two truck-drivers and one of their trucks recently caught fire because of an electrical short. Town employees have been working long hours, he said, and late into the evening to service everyone. In a couple of weeks, Brown said, they hope to have hired two drivers and have the damaged truck repaired or keep leasing the one they are leasing now.
Town Clerk Ann Mackie told council the regular municipal election will be held March. 5, 2019 at the Silver City Woman’s Club from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Absentee ballots can be mailed to voters between Feb. 5 and March 1, and will be accepted by mail or in person at the City Clerk’s office until 7 p.m. on election day. Early voting will take place at City Hall beginning Feb. 5 through March 2. Voters can register to vote in the municipal election at the Clerk’s office on Feb. 5 and candidates can declare their candidacy on Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Council approved the resolution for the election to be held.
The State Canvassing Board’s estimate for recount or recheck costs for the March 5, 2019 municipal election was approved.
Council approved a special dispenser permit application for the Society of Mining Engineers Christmas Party at the Murray Hotel on Dec. 15, from 4-11:30 p.m.
Council approved canceling the regular meeting scheduled for Dec. 25, 2019.