Sometimes what people write isn't your position

There comes a point in time where you can only read so much without being compelled to write something expressing your own point of view or thoughts without letting those who have written before you feel as if they speak for you.

The mayor settled a sexual harassment law suit. 99% of cases settle and 99 % of those that go to trial settle. This is not fake news or made up numbers. These are numbers and facts told to you in law school and seen in actual practice. This is not to say that the allegations should be brushed aside - this is not 1950 and women are not relegated to the kitchen with a baby on the hip. Nor is this Hollywood where people who buy and sell careers and livelihoods spawned the #metoo movement. This is small town America where a mayor did what he thought was best for the town...a thought that put him directly in the cross hairs of the democratic party and, unfortunately and somewhat disgustingly, the cross hairs of his own party.

The amount of settlement, when first read or heard seems astronomical, but in reality, is about $5.83 per resident or, and this is admittedly a guess, the number of years worth of salary since Ms Carbone has been out of a job. She may have very well been given these medical benefits when she retired bc the town takes care of its employees, as crazy a notion as that is, especially in the context of this reply to the several articles and editorials written - editorials by Bozo Jones who seems to have the greatest disdain for the mayor I have ever witnessed; or Sally suds who sounds more like sour grapes sal; or the mayor being perceived to blame the media but, if you were at the latest RTC meeting, you would've heard that he said sexual harassment is sensationalized by the media bc it sells, and it does. There is also his letter that states he was unfairly covered - I do not give much weight to this as he should take some modicum of responsibility for the position he has put himself in - I am not saying he should admit to something that he didn't do, but I am saying he should acknowledge that if his actions caused uncomfortability or the like, he should be sorry; not sorry someone feels that way but sorry for making someone feel uncomfortable.

Democrats seem to want everyone and their mother to resign. Why? Bc you can't beat the guy who said he'd eat a taco (and knowing the mayor, youd know he doesn't eat a lot of different foods, so what was an off the cuff and somewhat asinine comment, was not meant to be malicious)? Or maybe bc the Republican you'd be ok with who went independent and then Democrat couldn't beat him? Or maybe you think that him being out of office will stop any and all sexual harassment? If the latter is the case, I bet you believe that racism no longer exists, right? That Colin Kaepernick is viewed as a hero in everyone's home, yours and your neighbors included.

The fact is that cases settle and knowing what the price tag is now as opposed to the possible blank check you'd have to write later is just smart - smart for the town coffers, but terrible for your personal reputation despite having the ability and opportunity to take it down to the mat and make an accuser prove their case.

Not everyone likes Joe, that is a gimme and is granted by this writer - there are no rose colored glasses when looking at Joe and how people perceive him, but there are also no horse blinders being worn when seeing what was alleged and what the payment is to be.

If you don't like Joe, vote for someone else, the same way you could have when he made the taco comment which seems to somehow keep being brought up, or when he saw the town work through the consent decree based upon what police did while April was mayor (how quick we forget) or how he handled countless other times in the spotlight, negative or positive for the last 2 decades or so.

People keep saying his actions embarrass the town, well if that's the case, keep it in house with how you feel this should be handled and stop doing press conferences and the like continuing to darken the black eye you allege the town has - this is a small town, and a small town is like family and family doesn't air its dirty laundry.

Cross the aisle, so to speak, serve a meeting with Joe and the chairs of both parties and work through this like adults rather than press conferences for nothing other than 15 minutes of "fame"