The Martin Chronicles continues its' examination of Councilman Mike Pope's rhetoric and the reality. Today we will look at Pope's promise to "improve" communication and the grim reality of what has actually happened. We believe Pope's passive-aggressive "pot stirring" is a major reason why there is so much turmoil today. And, oh yeah, there is Mayor Mike Martin's misconduct and mismanagement. But that is a subject for many future posts.
Pope's first foray into websites was actually a strange little site called villyhills.com. As we have written before, Pope tried to use a shattered window on his pickup truck as evidence of a massive crime wave in Villa Hills. We know of course that Pope was simply taking insulting jabs at the Villa Hills Police Department. This is a trend that continues today as Pope blindly supports Martin's current decimation of the police. Ironically, it is the antics of these two that has led to a real crime wave in the City. Funny how things work out, isn't it?
Pope's next website was dedicated to attacking the UNFAIR $40 PER CAR STICKER TAX. The heading on this whacky site? "A BIG NEW TAX FOR YOU!". Once again, Pope heaped huge criticism on all of the people he blamed for not helping him stop the dreaded "Ameristop expansion". As we have already written, the first time Pope actually had the opportunity to vote against the UNFAIR $40 PER CAR STICKER TAX that he ranted about for many years, he voted to continue it. Funny, huh?
Pope's crowning "web achievement" was what we always lovingly refer to as his "alternate reality" City website. He launched his website shortly after joining council and used it to heap criticism on the mayor and his fellow councilmen. He used the website to deride the UNFAIR $40 PER CAR STICKER TAX-which, again, he ultimately voted to continue. He used his website to promote a FIFTY YEAR ROAD PLAN which offered no suggestions for how to fund it. He used his website to write loving stories about his close pal Mike Martin's trips to Haiti and to provide updates on Martin's $1.505 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TAXPAYERS.
Pope railed against all manner of City spending. He attacked the police and fire departments. He attacked the employees. He complained about a "bloated administration". Interestingly, Pope has never once complained about Martin's over-spending, Martin's crony hires, Martin's patronage contracts, Martin's explosion in City Attorney costs, the abject incompetence of the endlessly interim City Clerk, the destruction of records, the failure to fill open records requests and on and on and on.
He even used his website to accuse the mayor and council colleagues of committing crimes. The best example? He falsely wrote that a "secret meeting" was held to pass a tax increase. He was confronted on camera about that one. At first he denied it. That is, until his own words were read back to him.
If you watch a replay of that meeting you will see something amazing. Even the passive-agressive Pope finally realized that he may have taken his libel too far. He actually asked the City Attorney if he needed a lawyer.
Pope finally lamely excused his defamatory comments by claiming they were "a joke". It was not Pope's comments that were "a joke". That crown is worn by the writer of the libelous comments.
Sadly, people on council at the time tell The Martin Chronicles that they received a smattering of e-mails from residents who thought that the rest of council was being unfair and picking on Pope. We can only conclude that these e-mailers have no problem with people libeling others. We do wonder how those e-mailers would respond if they were falsely accused of committing a crime.
Pope's commitment to communication did not extend to people who had the audacity to question the conduct of his soul mate Martin. We have shown you Pope emails that attacked private citizens for daring to question Martin's refusal to fill Open Records requests. He described those residents' actions as "antics".
Yes, the now-defunct website was strange. Much like its' author. But it also had an impact. Pope's friends at St. Joke's lapped up the lies. The steady drip, drip, drip of falsehoods emboldened Martin and his hillbilly lynchmob to run a successful dirtbag campaign that landed "The Little Man From Norwood" into the mayor's office. Lies, yes. But lies that got results.
Most importantly, Pope's website slander fostered ill will that lingers to this day. Ironically, there is a substantial number of people who blame those on the receiving end of Pope's lies for the "deeply troubling animosity" that exists today.
Council stands for election just 118 days from now. Are enough people payng attention?
