OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF
SALISBURY CITY COUNCILWOMAN
TERRY E. COHEN
August 4, 2014
Over the last seven-plus years, I have been blessed to have been entrusted by the people of Salisbury, specifically District 2, to serve as their representative on this council. Having this opportunity to work toward improving the quality of life for others came not once-in-a-lifetime, but twice for me. My heart is filled with gratitude for that trust and for the support I received from all over the city.
Therefore, I know those I represent will understand when I say that today is my last council meeting and why that is so.
Throughout my entire time on council, my husband, my children and other members of my family have given me the love, support and yes, sacrifices, that make this kind of service possible. My family and I have achieved an amazing amount of balance together to enable me to accomplish what I have for them and for you. This has also been possible due to the support of many people in Salisbury who understood from the very start that I am a wife, a mother and a business owner, as well as their public servant.
However, during the course of the last ten months or so, my family and I have experienced some major life changes, including a recent tragic loss. What lies ahead for us will demand such an extent of my time and attention that my continued service as a council member will not be possible at a level that I demand of myself. My family and I have discussed numerous possibilities to try to enable my service to continue until the end of my second term, but no option does justice to either my family or my service to you.
Often, at this point in a farewell statement, public officials will list a number of their accomplishments, joint or solo. Of course, there are many things I did of which I am proud, most especially working with others to bring Salisbury to a higher level of governmental transparency, fiscal responsibility and violent crime reduction.
I will not be going through a long list today. That kind of reflection is better reserved for another time and place.
Sometimes, a departing public official will list a number of their grievances, but this is not a political decision. If such analysis is to be done, it also requires another time and place.
Right now, the proverbial plate is as full as my heart. My last actual day will be this Friday, August 8th, to afford time for closure of some matters with constituents, staff and governmental colleagues. To my fellow public officials – whether elected or appointed, paid or volunteer -- and to my successor, I wish you much luck in your work on behalf of the people of Salisbury and wish you wisdom in all your decisions.
Cohen – Official Statement – Page 2
To the people of Salisbury, thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity to serve you. Even after my time on council is done, as my situation may permit in the future, I hope to continue to assist you in whatever way I can.
Together with my family and friends, you have enabled me to continue my lifelong commitment to the words of Hillel, addressing the issues of personal responsibility, social responsibility and the urgency of both:
If I am not for myself,
Who will be for me?
If I am only for myself,
What am I?
And if not now, when?
I thank G-d for the many blessings I have today, but most of all, for my family. To my husband, to my children, to my entire family, including those we have lost, thank you for your contributions – so often unrecognized – and for your love and support.
Originally published at 7:30 PM
Originally published at 7:30 PM
64 comments:
Are we not allowed to write GOD anymore?!?
Classy woman. Sorry to see her leave.
7:44 She's Jewish you imbecile. Jews do not write the name of God on paper.
7:54, must you show your lack of intelligence and consider not everyone is familiar ith the Jewish faith. I bet you got beat up a lot on the playground and you are still upset.
Mrs. Cohen is certainly a class act. One has to wonder what the odds are for Salisbury to be again graced with the presence of such an honest, forthright and selfless public servant. Bless you, Mrs. Cohen, and your family in all your future endeavors, and thank you for your wisdom and courage.
7:44, maybe you shouldn't have asked so antagonistically.
7:54, you did not have to respond in kind.
My college roommate was Jewish and he did not write out God's name either. My recall is that it wasn't done on impermanent things that could get trashed. A sign of respect.
I'm a little more blown away that she resigned. But wow, she sure did it with class. I hope she and her family will be well.
anyone know how they replace her? Is one appointed or is there an election?
This makes me ill! Thank you Terry for making wise decisions for us City tax payers. Who can we count on now?
Thank you, Councilwoman Cohen. Your time as Council President brought respect for the public and your colleagues alike. Your grace and brilliance, intellectually and as a leader, are appreciated. In respect of your beliefs, G-d bless you and your family in all future endeavors/
What 8:29 said. I could not have said my thoughts any better. I would like to emphasize the phrase "a class act." Mrs Cohen took the phrase to a new level when she showed such grace under the attacks and provocation of others.
Thank you so much for your selfless service, Terry. Salisbury is a better place because of you, and we will miss you!
Anonymous said...
Mrs. Cohen is certainly a class act. One has to wonder what the odds are for Salisbury to be again graced with the presence of such an honest, forthright and selfless public servant. Bless you, Mrs. Cohen, and your family in all your future endeavors, and thank you for your wisdom and courage.
August 4, 2014 at 8:29 PM
Don't worry Muir Boda will fill her shoes. This is the opportunity he has been waiting for.
Anonymous said...
anyone know how they replace her? Is one appointed or is there an election?
August 4, 2014 at 9:08 PM
Muir Boda you know you want this bad!
Jim Ireton, Jake Day, Laura Mitchell and Muir Boda
#4 Rubber Stamp incoming!
9:54, you forgot Shields.
The classless goons will probably party all week.
That was a classy resignation, but also really heart wrenching. I hope whatever she and her family are facing ends well. I am sorry for her loss.
This really saddens me.
10:34, me, too. Nasty people will celebrate, but all us little guys will miss her bad. She treated everyone with respect, even the clowns who didn't deserve it.
This is a very sad day for the citizens of Salisbury. Terry, thank you for your service and very sorry to see you go.
The last intelligent council person in Salisbury , this city is now doomed.
Wow ,this is interesting on the city level. Of course she is a class act , she is responsible for holding the city together.
I don't understand how she managed for so long with the other two lady #$%$#&*itches.
I would have bailed out years ago , not to worry , the rest of the country has failed with democrats in charge.
Maybe since Josh Hastings will be appointed since he is running and he is close friends with Jim Ireton, Jake Day, Chuck Cook and Laura Mitchell? He lives in the city and would be the best fit for them.
The leaderships continues to weaken. Sad day for Salisbury.
The worst news I've heard in a long time regarding our town. May the force be with you, Ms. Cohen Thank you for your service. Tim, hang in there!
2014 is the year Salisbury went down the tubes. You can hear the fat lady warming up for the requiem on the last "3rd Friday" of the year.
This seals the deal for complete takeover of the town by the slumlords and the Gillis-Day group. Along with Shields and Mitchell there's no hope.
Now its too late to bail out of Salisbury if you held on to your home because it looked like things would get better after Barrie, Mikey and Bubba.
All of the taxpayers in duh bury are about to feel the wrath of CHANGE. They WILL appoint a rubber stamp, know nothing...making it 3, plus the mayor. Good luck.
...Not very familiar with Ms. Cohen - but that was a very nice farewell statement.
While I'm at it:
TO 7:54 (Who wrote: "...She's Jewish you imbecile. Jews do not write the name of God on paper...):
I learned two things from your post. 1. After working with and for Jews pretty much my entire life, I did not know that Jews do not write the name of God on paper. 2. I'm an imbecile for not knowing that.
If I may... Possibly I can teach YOU something.
Try this next time: "...An interesting fact of the Jewish religion is that they don't print the name of God on paper...". Then leave out the 'imbecile' part.
Try that next time, see how nice it'll make you feel.
8:29 PM
Ditto!
A class act for sure!
This should be at the top instead of buried under national feeds.
8:41, this was at the top since 7:30 PM yesterday. Today is a new day.
I'd like to comment, but I'm, speechless.
7:58, you're not an imbecile for not knowing that Jews do not write out the name of God. You're an imbecile for assuming that "God" was edited out of her statement by someone else for PC reasons.
The council members present, except for Mr. Spies, who stated, "Mrs. Cohen, it's been an honor to have served with you", were silent. Not a peep. Not a thank you. Not an acknowledgement of her service. Not a statement to wish her well. Nothing.
Mitchell, in the president's seat for the evening in the absence of the council president, had a responsibility to speak to Mrs. Cohen's departure, but didn't. The antithesis of a class act.
9:17. Exactly.
The bitches once again, showed themselves for what they are.
Not even qualified to be in the same room as Terry E Cohen.
"...heart wrenching,"
"2014 is the year Salisbury went down the tubes."
...and more.
Very sad. She's a sweetheart and, along with Tim, the last shot at responsible, accountable and transparent government in Salisbury.
As depressing as her departure is, I cannot fathom how she's put up with the crap she has from mayor and media.
I hope she and her hubby grab a bottle of nice Scotch, turn off the phones and get some well deserved peace and quiet.
this isn't good, an open seat for mike howdy doody dunn, that's how the good ole boys roll. how is that old mall deal working out?
Not to have said a word when she's leaving shows her fellow council members to be what we've always known they were. Mediocrity never recognizes excellence and never will.
And still no response from the cowardly mayor. You know, the one who exposes himself to women, stumbles around drunk in public and used Ms. Cohen's skills as a campaigner to get elected and then immediately shit all over her, as soon as he did.
You know, the Scum Bag in charge.
Apparently none of Mrs Cohen's class rubbed off on the mayor while he was still playing at being her friend.
"You know, the one who exposes himself to women, stumbles around drunk in public"
Someone told me once that the people considered the "movers and shakers" of Sby are nothing but a bunch of binge drinkers and that's why Sby will never amount to much. The person who said this is a prominent democrat on the state level. Goes to show you what their peers really think of them.
They should appoint Josh Hastings to that seat since he is their buddies. He will be a good rubber stamper. Even better than Muir Boda. Muir has to many friends that are Republican.
I'm "7:58". I didn't write the original post.... Just showing a little compassion for the person that did. You seem to be a very bitter person. Have you ever considered anger management?
Mrs. Cohen, Thank you for ALL of your hard work and dedication to this community. You will be sincerely missed. I know that your decision to resign could not have been an easy one. We all wish you the best in your future endeavors. Hopefully this will not be the last of your public service. Wishing you all the best.
Second the motion to put this at the top of the posts all day today.
No question Mrs. Cohen took tons of abuse. You saw it at almost every meeting, so who knows how much more she took behind the scenes.
I don't think that had to do with her resigning though. She has been an amazingly tough cookie, far more you-know-what than I could have stood. It was obvious from her statement that she was making a tough choice but has her priorities right.
Thank you for your service, ma'am.
10:27, the cowardly mayor will have Chuck Cook, or better yet, Bill Duck of his Maryland campaign committee, write up some flowery tribute so that he can ride Mrs. Cohen's coattails to the very end. "See how nice I was to her?"
Or he'll just have an immature public meltdown and get one last heaping of abuse in on her.
Should I start a pool on this one?
Put me down for $20 on public meltdown in 2.5 days in that pool.
As a Democrat, I can say Muir Boda has many friends who are Democrat. I don't always agree with but he always seems reasonable and rational. He is a Republican I would vote for if given the chance.
So, Ireton and his ilk have finally gotten rid of the best member of the current council by their abuse and shenanigans.
That's why out here we call it "Smallsbury."
Happy in Hebron
2:49, I'm sure Ireton and his ilk would love the satisfaction of thinking they ran her off, but I am close to the family and I know that is not the reason.
Getting away from that garbage is just a bonus.
His 'meltdowns' are a classic symptom of excessive consumption of alcohol.
I can see Boda fighting tax increases and the owning properties. I've heard him describe his political philosophy as Anarcho Capitalist.
Boda is a nice guy but he cozie up to landlords, then Ireton, then...
that sort of thing makes me nervous.
Running four times - for 3 different levels of office - means political ambition. It's just my opinion, but I don't like voting for people who seem to want a political career.
I hope Mrs. Cohen has a good life. She ran because she cared. Not so she could get some land deal. Or get the next office up. Or any of the rest of that.
Sorry to see her go, one of the last responsible and effective people on the council. The first big tax increase or pro fag initiative that comes down now will be my sign to head 7 miles north. HAD ENOUGH AS IT IS.
Signed: One of the few taxpayers left in da' Bury.
6:48, huh?
I see him going along to get along.
I hear they are going to rename "Da Bury" to DaTroit!
Anonymous said...
The last intelligent council person in Salisbury , this city is now doomed.
August 5, 2014 at 4:52 AM
Don't forget Tim Spies. He was part of that intelligent team.
Anonymous said...
The council members present, except for Mr. Spies, who stated, "Mrs. Cohen, it's been an honor to have served with you", were silent. Not a peep. Not a thank you. Not an acknowledgement of her service. Not a statement to wish her well. Nothing.
Mitchell, in the president's seat for the evening in the absence of the council president, had a responsibility to speak to Mrs. Cohen's departure, but didn't. The antithesis of a class act.
August 5, 2014 at 9:17 AM
Wow I didn't know that happened. Sad.
Anonymous said...
I can see Boda fighting tax increases and the owning properties. I've heard him describe his political philosophy as Anarcho Capitalist.
August 5, 2014 at 6:48 PM
Laughing My Butt Off!! Describe is the key word here. He says what people want to hear. Bota wants to be an elected person so bad that he can taste it. This will now give him 5 attempts at an elected position.
Note to that last comment and that should throw up a red flag. Five attempts to get on an elected body and fails speaks volumes. He tried twice for the City Council and failed. He tried once for Congress and that was a big fail. He tried this last time for County Council and that was another big fail. Four times trying to get elected and fails each time. He failed at getting elected to the City Council twice so that should tell anyone with a brain that they don't want him as their representative. Wake up and listen to the message the people have SPOKEN 4 times and they don't want him as their representative in any form of government. Even Laura Mitchell beat him out for the Wicomico County Council so that makes 3 times that the city voters did not want him.
Know this council they would vote to allow him to serve after the people have spoken. Big mistake on their part. The sad part of this is he may get appointed by the current council and it's sad to think that this is the only way someone will get to be an "Elected" representative. Sad and embarrassing. He is not wanted!!
Ireton made a good attempt at looking classy with his comment about Cohen in the daily rag today, BUT WAIT!
He couldn't bring himself to say nice things about her and treat her with respect while she served, in fact quite the opposite?
Ireton, the only thing transparent about you is we see right through you!
Ireton, good attempt? More like a half hearted lip service attempt.
dueschenbaggen. Just another scum sucking politician who wouldn't recognize quality if it bit them in the ass.
Let Josh Hastings have the job. He and Ireton and Day are BFF's.
I hear she's scoring a trifecta by leaving Salisbury, Wicomico County and Maryland. That gal has got brains, and soon others will soon be following her lead.
Jimbeau- Here's my bumper sticker:
BYE BYE
S'bury!
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