Those of you who watch my "Tell It Like It Is" show know that I have little patience for people who are less than candid, and no patience whatsoever for those who might attempt to use my show to spin tales to the public that obfuscate the truth. I spend considerable time on researching the topics discussed on every show, and I truly bend over backwards to provide every guest a show in which he or she is treated fairly and is given full opportunity to completely state his or her "case", so's to speak. While there have been issues on which I have had strong opinions, I have made every attempt to provide viewers with a balanced presentation of opposing views as well. Having said all of that, I believe that every guest on my shows (numbering roughly 120 shows as of this writing) has recognized that if misinformation is given on my show, it will be corrected, regardless of whether the misinformation came from me or from a show guest. I refuse to compromise my own credibility, and I also refuse to allow it to be compromised by a guest whose own credibility on the show later proves to be worthy of scrutiny and exposure.
As you indubitably remember, during the 2012 Town election, there was a very contentious race for the Town Moderator's position in which challenger Atty. Brian Shaughnessy wound up unseating the longtime incumbent Ryk Bullock. During the time leading up to the election, there was much public discourse on the long-standing charges that Bullock was a Bedford tax scofflaw for a period of time dating back over 10 years. Through the years, Bullock repeatedly denied tax responsibility for multiple Bedford properties, and essentially accused the Town's Tax Collector Crystal Dionne of engaging in some kind of conspiracy to embarrass and defame him.
Prior to the election, I did a show with Bullock which was almost entirely centered on Bullock defending himself against tax scofflaw accusations. Over and over again, with property after property, he denied having any responsibility for tax payments. He promised to take the very simple steps to prove to the Town that he was the innocent victim of Town government, and perhaps even of an overzealous Tax Collector. That show was taped and was aired in February 2012.
Well . . . it's now 19 months later. And there are still tax arrears totaling almost $90,000 on the properties for which Bullock claimed to have no responsibility. And during the 19 months, Bullock has done absolutely nothing to prove to either the Town or to Bedford taxpayers that he presented the truth on my show. It seems to me that if Bullock truly is innocent of all tax scofflaw accusations, he would have found some time in 19 months to take the simple steps required that would rectify such. It seems to me that would have been a better use of his time than trying to reinvent himself by claiming how much he loves Bedford or by forming something he calls "Bedford Positively" on which he spends a lot of time trying to put himself in the starring role of Bedford's biggest promoter.
So, 19 months after my show with Bullock, there is a new show called "A Thorn in Bedford's Side" , which is a follow-up to that February 2012 "Tell It Like It Is Show". On it, I am joined by guests Town Councilor Jim Scanlon and former Town Councilor and local businessman Bill Greiner.
The show begins airing today on BCTV Channel 16 and will run through to Thursday night, September 27 on the following schedule:
Friday/Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday - 11:00 AM, 9:00 PM
Saturday/Monday/Wednesday - 1:00 PM, 10:00 PM
It can also be viewed on the show website at www.tellitlikeitisnh.com . On the top toolbar, simply click on Issues, and then click on Most Recent Shows. The show will be permanently archived on the website in the Issues section under the heading of Bedford Taxes.
The show should be watched by any Bedford resident who believes that one of the most positive things that we do for the Town is to support it through the payment of our property taxes. It should also be watched by anyone who resents the fact that there are individuals who apparently believe that they are too important to follow the rules that must be followed by the rest of us.
