Surprising Stuff

Was there unauthorized use of Veterans Park?
Facts are facts and they do not change, but the interpretation of facts can change with those in charge. For example: Are city parks open to the public? Ask any of the city officials and they would say “yes,” however, there are always “buts,” like; but “not for overnight sleeping.” Is the beach open to the public? Yes, but sometimes you have to pay a fee to have access to it. Are city parks open to the public? Yes, but sometimes the public access is restricted because the city issues a permit for private use of the park, thus restricting the public’s use of the park, or to a section of the park.

As restricted access is increased, like on the 2nd floor on the Riviera, the facility is no longer considered open to the public, but it is available to the public. So when the city pays the YMCA to run a youth program, and do the scheduling of the use of Veterans Park, then when does the park cease to be open to the public and only available to the public with YMCA authorization? Has Veterans Park effectively become a YMCA park, owned and maintained by the city, but only available to the public through the YMCA’s permission? Facts are facts, but the interpretation of them changes with those in charge.

For example; the Constitution says congress shall pass no laws limiting the freedom of speech, but if you say some things today that were acceptable sixty years ago, it may be interpreted differently, and that difference can make you subject to being prosecuted for saying it. So, has using a baseball diamond in Veterans Park to play baseball without first obtaining authorization from the YMCA become an unauthorized use of Veterans Park? Today, by definition, it is now unauthorized, but when it was built for the public and with the public’s money that was not true. So what changed? Is Veterans Park still “open to the public,” or is its use somehow restricted to only those with YMCA authorization?

 

The total rip-up of Highway 50 in front of the utility building. This project was going to kick off on the fifth of April and was to be done by Memorial Day. Once again the project has been pushed back. Work will now begin on the 17th of April, weather permitting, and the probable or potential finish date has been dropped from the agenda. This project cannot be considered a boondoggle, as it’s not been padded for profits, but the word “folly” does begin to come to the edges of everyone’s mind. Sadly, the Lake Geneva Street Department is caught right in the middle of this mess, while the utility companies, who have to do their part first, have proven to be feckless and without care.

 

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