Saw it. Don't completely believe it. Certainly don't get it.

Imagine the final convergence of two great forces.  Or are we about to view the collision of forces?  Let's imagine, at least for purpose of discussion, that Steve Bernard had a theory, and a vision, and he stood for what he tells us incessantly he stands for. And let's summarize that that theory, and that vision, is that the people count, they are the primary entities in our neighborhood, and that the goal of government, here or anywhere, is to see to it that those people are heard, respected, and taken into highest consideration.  I think it's not too far to go to say that Steve feels, or says, the people, when they make their feelings known, should be obeyed.  Government is there to effect the will of the people.  Not the other way around.

So last night, on the Commission agenda, as on the Commission agendas for each of the past very many months, was an item about a change in our Code regarding fences.  This item has been on the Commission's agenda for months for two reasons.  One is that whenever it is actually considered, which it has been from time to time, the Commission sends it back to the Code Review Committee, who are no doubt sick to death dealing with it, to refine it.  Further and repeatedly.  The other reason this item has not been resolved is that the Commission most often does not, in fact, take it up, because the Commission gets bogged down in other nonsense.  We saw a typical, if somewhat bizarre, example last night.  One of the Commission's favorite time wasters is fussing about the minutes.  The Commission ALWAYS wastes inordinate time with this pathetic and frustrating exercise, where that very Steve Bernard will introduce proposed correction after proposed correction, none of which are adopted, and it seems his primary purpose in proposing them (this is essentially what he says) is to draw attention to what he likes to portray as the ethical flaws, and abuse of power, of three of his colleagues.  Last night, same thing.  What made it more bizarre last night was that one of the enemies of the people wasn't there, so every proposal was "defeated" by a mind-numbingly recurrent 2-2 tie.  Furthermore, Steve told us in advance that he wasn't running for re-election next month, and he might not be attending any more Commission meetings at all.  So what was his point?  But whatever it was, it cost us about an hour.

So thanks to Steve, in part, this fence issue has dragged on interminably.  This delay has tested the patience of residents who simply want fences, and it has all but unnerved the CRC, which has recrafted the fence ordinance who knows how many times, often because Steve 1) doesn't like the language, and 2) insists the people must be best represented by the Code.  The CRC, of course, is the people.  It includes members some of whom were appointed by Steve.

Last night.  Drum roll.  Final revision submitted.  CRC Chair personally there to shepherd the presentation.  It don't get better, or more comprehensive, than this in terms of hearing the voice of the people.

Force number two.  As I said, Steve announced at the outset of the meeting that we wouldn't have him to kick around any more.  (Sorry, Dick; Sorry, Pat; Sorry, Checkers)  This was the finale.  The swan song.  The culmination of his opportunity, and his career, as a Commissioner whose one and only stated goal was to elevate the people and their voices.

So in theory (beginning to look like one of Einstein's, where up may be down, and down may be up), Steve thanks the CRC, and the Commission, and the Attorney, and the impatient residents, and he reassures everyone that it was necessary to protract this fence ordinance business, so that the best voice of the people would be developed and heard.  In theory, he votes proudly, perhaps even gloating, to pass this final revision of the fence Code.  Ta-Da!  Sort of a crowning achievement.

You will recall that I said it wasn't completely clear whether we were about to witness a convergence, or a collision.  And if you have any sense at all, you will not read further without donning a crash helmet.

Steve's reception of the new Code was as follows: He felt it didn't really represent the real wishes of the people.  He did not make clear what those real wishes really are, and how he knows.  Maybe it was that standard large collection of mysterious e-mails, sent by anonymous residents, and only to him.  Further, in that we are about to have an election, and at least one Commissioner will be different than the current roster (someone will take over Steve's vacant seat), he somehow decided that the current Commission should not feel authorized to make decisions regarding the fence Code.  He seems to have felt that if even one member of the current Commission is a lame duck, which he is, then the Commission is disqualified from making important decisions.  (He did not, however, recommend cancelling or quickly adjourning the meeting.  Line of thinking unknown.  Possibly not rational anyway.)  And we must remember that it was this lame duck, irrelevant, disqualified Commission that 1) kept sending the iterations of the proposed Code back to the CRC, and that 2) was too irresponsible and ignoring of the needs of the residents to address the reviewed Code in a timely way.  Buck stops where?

So Steve's suggestion, with which my one-time friend Roxy Ross agreed (I'm scolding you, Rox; you're a bad, bad girl.  Mayor, indeed!), was to delay consideration of the Code and let the real representatives of the residents, the next Commission, whoever they are, deal with it.  Would you believe me if I told you there were residents who were dying to get permission to put up fences, and at least two representatives of the CRC, in attendance last night, and none of them was very pleased at this gross abdication of responsibility?  And if you think that Steve seems to be at war with himself, I think you're right.

I give myself the task of trying to explain this behavior.  I won't saying making sense of it, because I don't think there is any sense to it.  But here goes.  And this is all speculation.  1) Maybe Steve is just blindly obstructive, or sabotaging.  Anything to interfere with progress and/or equanimity.  2) Steve is angry at everyone over whatever made him to decide not to run for re-election, so he's punishing everyone.  3) With all his bluster and portrayal of broad knowledge, if not expertise, Steve doesn't trust himself and is really afraid to make decisions, and it's easier for him to interfere with them than to take real leadership in one.  4) Steve sees a no-win situation here, where no matter what, someone will be disappointed, or angry, and he wants someone else, not himself, to take responsibility for it.  5) Steve doesn't really like fences here.  He's sort of said that, and he sort of said it last night.  But the new Code was about allowing them.  So Steve caught himself with his own pants down, and really isn't that interested in what the people want anyway, if it conflicts with what he wants, so he just wanted to run away from the whole matter.  Other than that, I think I'm outta material.

Now Rox.  What's got inta ya, girl, as Frank Zappa said.  I only have three theories, not having spoken with her about it.  1) She was tired of the monotonous 2-2 votes, of which this would surely have been yet another, so why bother?  2) She was tired of fighting with Steve, which is what occupies most of her time, Anderson's time, Childress' time, Ana's time, Maria Camara's time, Charlie Smith's time, and all the rest of our time, and again concluded, why bother?  3) Rox calculated (she said so last night) that if she agreed to set it aside until next month, there would be a one month delay in dealing with it.  (Groan.)  But if it got voted down (2-2 is defeat), there would be a three month delay in being able to reintroduce it.  (Hysterical shrieking!)  So better to delay.  And anyway, there was always 1).

What an unsatisfying evening.  And an affront to everyone who lives here.