CATHCART COMMENTS … AND GETS CLOBBERED

Although it has no bearing on the City of Salisbury’s budget for the upcoming year, a comment by former Councilmember Cathcart at the recent budget hearing last week warrants attention as does the reaction to it by someone who was in the audience. It seems that Cathcart is no less a supporter of whatever Barrie Tilghman proposes than she was when on the Council from 2003 to 2007 as part of the “Dream Team” that also included Messrs. Dunn and Comegys.

At the hearing one of the speakers prior to her was a local resident who has a deep and sincere interest in the governance of Salisbury but does not live in the City. He presented a very succinct and serious criticism of Tilghman’s proposed budget, which received applause by the audience that must have triggered a mental synapse that caused Cathcart to defend Tilghman by attacking the transgressor, just like she often did when on the Council.

In her statement, which dealt mostly with matters of no budgetary significance, Cathcart pointedly observed that some of the speakers were not City residents and suggested that, for that reason, their comments had very little or no value. By that remark, Cathcart has once again revealed her habit of demeaning those whose view differs from hers, often engaging in absurd argumentation for that purpose – such as the notion that the value of a person’s statements depends upon where he or she lives.

Such conduct became her modus operandi when she was on the Council. Recall, for example, her response to the concern stated by local high school students about the increasingly overcrowded classrooms due the Salisbury’s policy of uncontrolled development during the days of the “Dream Team” -- “it’s always been that way.” Then there was the time that she told a City resident who was trying to ask a question at a Council meeting to “put your hand down.”

Cathcart has a right to belittle others, but not as an elected official. Never again, that is.

Those who missed the public hearing can press above to listen to Cathcart’s statement also listen to the response by ME who took umbrage at her inappropriate statement directed at another speaker.