Post by richardkelsey on Dec 13, 2007 13:55:14 GMT -5
The Transcript has not ruled out running a response from me -- for that I am grateful. However, they released me to allow this letter I wrote on November 15, 2007 to be placed on the PEOPLE site.
Again -- this letter was written after the 3 letter response by the Mayor, Sharon Shutzer, and Jaye Sims.
It corrects the misrepresentations made by some of the letters, and fills in some very critical facts. For those obsessed with the notion that my opinions are unwelcome or frivolous because I live outside of Freehold now -- just remember that my views were sought out by the Borough.
Here is the letter:
Mayor Invited Advice; Regretted Not Taking It
After three letters from Mayor and Council members, we still don’t have any answers as to why they are appointing radical’s with ties to the Latino Leadership Alliance and CASA Freehold to policy making commissions. Freehold did, at least, finally get the debate the Mayor and Council refused to have during the election season. Unfortunately, rather than address the substance of my letter, the Mayor and Council strangely elected instead to discuss a meeting I and a member of my then law firm had with them in April 2004. That meeting, they failed to mention, was at the invitation of Mayor Wilson. That meeting was a meeting meant to try to bring national help and expertise to the Borough. In fact, Mayor Wilson, then a fan of my writing, called me at my home in Arlington Virginia to thank me for a piece I wrote and enlist my help. I agreed immediately to help my hometown.
I won’t discuss the contents of the meeting the Councilwoman references, though I do believe that Mrs. Shutzer’s letter effectuates a waiver of attorney-client privilege and entitles me to do so. I will say this, more than one council member couldn’t be bothered to show up. The Borough received outstanding advice, based on years of experience and countless hours of research by top lawyers from one of the world’s largest law firms. The Borough was charged nothing for that meeting – not even our travel. They elected not to take that advice, and of course things have turned out so well for them since. Instead, they take their advice from CASA Freehold and the Latino Leadership Alliance.
The advice I referenced in my guest column was advice I have given publicly in dozens of letters which Councilwoman Shutzer apparently never read. In fact, that advice also has existed on the Freehold PEOPLE website, where these issues are discussed daily. The Mayor knows this because he has been logging in daily to that site until my last letter was published, and Councilman Mark Le Vine was a regular contributor to the site. My position has been posted there for over a year, under a thread titled “What Would You Do.” My positions on the issue of illegal immigration have never changed. Others may have changed parties or positions, I have always stood for legal immigrants and citizens.
While the letter-writers attempt to paint me as a profiteer, some key facts were left out. What the Mayor neglected to tell the people of Freehold is that in the summer of 2005, he sought me out again, this time while I was attending the viewing of a family member in Freehold. Unsolicited he told me, “Things are getting worse here. We should have listened to you.” Again, I reiterated my willingness to help. The Mayor was a big fan of my positions until two weeks ago. Two weeks ago, I dared to apportion some blame to him after 22 years on the job.
I do have an agenda – that I do not deny. My agenda is the same that it has been since 1994 when I coined the phrase “illegal invaders” in a guest column in this newspaper. That agenda is to stand up for the law-abiding, tax-paying citizens of this country – and of course my hometown. I have advised plaintiff’s in Virginia, towns and state representatives in multiple states, and been on radio, TV and print on this issue. I have helped to forge new legislative initiatives on local enforcement efforts in states and counties willing to stand up for their citizens. Never, in my 13 year fight against illegal aliens have I profited one dime from doing so. Never, either, have I sold out legal residents and legal immigrants.
The Mayor is right. I am a lawyer and I do understand what can and cannot be done by localities to protect their citizens. He is not and does not. In eleven years, he still has not enacted the 287(g) program specifically designed for localities. That’s why I keep fighting for my hometown, even when he is settling suits. Whatever happened to “bring it on?”
The voters of the Borough of Freehold have the right to elect whomever they want. But the Mayor should not confuse the lack of organized dissent in a town where many have voted with their feet with an endorsement for his efforts. There is a significant difference between getting and keeping a job, and doing the job. The Mayor demonstrates that difference year in and year out.
Richard Kelsey is an attorney and President of a Computer Forensic and Incident Response Company. He is a professor of law, a writer, commentator and activist on issues of illegal immigration. He was born and raised in Freehold, and now resides in Ashburn, Virginia.
Again -- this letter was written after the 3 letter response by the Mayor, Sharon Shutzer, and Jaye Sims.
It corrects the misrepresentations made by some of the letters, and fills in some very critical facts. For those obsessed with the notion that my opinions are unwelcome or frivolous because I live outside of Freehold now -- just remember that my views were sought out by the Borough.
Here is the letter:
Mayor Invited Advice; Regretted Not Taking It
After three letters from Mayor and Council members, we still don’t have any answers as to why they are appointing radical’s with ties to the Latino Leadership Alliance and CASA Freehold to policy making commissions. Freehold did, at least, finally get the debate the Mayor and Council refused to have during the election season. Unfortunately, rather than address the substance of my letter, the Mayor and Council strangely elected instead to discuss a meeting I and a member of my then law firm had with them in April 2004. That meeting, they failed to mention, was at the invitation of Mayor Wilson. That meeting was a meeting meant to try to bring national help and expertise to the Borough. In fact, Mayor Wilson, then a fan of my writing, called me at my home in Arlington Virginia to thank me for a piece I wrote and enlist my help. I agreed immediately to help my hometown.
I won’t discuss the contents of the meeting the Councilwoman references, though I do believe that Mrs. Shutzer’s letter effectuates a waiver of attorney-client privilege and entitles me to do so. I will say this, more than one council member couldn’t be bothered to show up. The Borough received outstanding advice, based on years of experience and countless hours of research by top lawyers from one of the world’s largest law firms. The Borough was charged nothing for that meeting – not even our travel. They elected not to take that advice, and of course things have turned out so well for them since. Instead, they take their advice from CASA Freehold and the Latino Leadership Alliance.
The advice I referenced in my guest column was advice I have given publicly in dozens of letters which Councilwoman Shutzer apparently never read. In fact, that advice also has existed on the Freehold PEOPLE website, where these issues are discussed daily. The Mayor knows this because he has been logging in daily to that site until my last letter was published, and Councilman Mark Le Vine was a regular contributor to the site. My position has been posted there for over a year, under a thread titled “What Would You Do.” My positions on the issue of illegal immigration have never changed. Others may have changed parties or positions, I have always stood for legal immigrants and citizens.
While the letter-writers attempt to paint me as a profiteer, some key facts were left out. What the Mayor neglected to tell the people of Freehold is that in the summer of 2005, he sought me out again, this time while I was attending the viewing of a family member in Freehold. Unsolicited he told me, “Things are getting worse here. We should have listened to you.” Again, I reiterated my willingness to help. The Mayor was a big fan of my positions until two weeks ago. Two weeks ago, I dared to apportion some blame to him after 22 years on the job.
I do have an agenda – that I do not deny. My agenda is the same that it has been since 1994 when I coined the phrase “illegal invaders” in a guest column in this newspaper. That agenda is to stand up for the law-abiding, tax-paying citizens of this country – and of course my hometown. I have advised plaintiff’s in Virginia, towns and state representatives in multiple states, and been on radio, TV and print on this issue. I have helped to forge new legislative initiatives on local enforcement efforts in states and counties willing to stand up for their citizens. Never, in my 13 year fight against illegal aliens have I profited one dime from doing so. Never, either, have I sold out legal residents and legal immigrants.
The Mayor is right. I am a lawyer and I do understand what can and cannot be done by localities to protect their citizens. He is not and does not. In eleven years, he still has not enacted the 287(g) program specifically designed for localities. That’s why I keep fighting for my hometown, even when he is settling suits. Whatever happened to “bring it on?”
The voters of the Borough of Freehold have the right to elect whomever they want. But the Mayor should not confuse the lack of organized dissent in a town where many have voted with their feet with an endorsement for his efforts. There is a significant difference between getting and keeping a job, and doing the job. The Mayor demonstrates that difference year in and year out.
Richard Kelsey is an attorney and President of a Computer Forensic and Incident Response Company. He is a professor of law, a writer, commentator and activist on issues of illegal immigration. He was born and raised in Freehold, and now resides in Ashburn, Virginia.
(uuhmmmmmm)