Standing Up To A Bully - Guardian Publisher Threatened Local Elected Official

While the proponents of Prop. H try to portray themselves as nothing more than altruistic do-gooders, the dark side of their behavior has begun to be brought to light. First, we saw vulgar, sexist videos used to advance their cause. Now, Community College Board Member Rodel Rodis talks about his personal experience with the bullying tactics of public power proponents at the PinoyWired.com blog.

Mr. Rodis, a respected member of the Filipino community and who has worked with people all across San Francisco on a variety of causes, recounts his experience as the first Filipino American appointed to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). Mr. Rodis recounts the lobbying before a vote in 1991 on the subject of a takeover by the city of the local utility system. He writes”

“Out of the five (5) members of the SFPUC, two were in favor of municipalization and two were against. I had not made up my mind on the issue and so I would be the deciding vote.

In the week leading up to the vote, I was furiously lobbied by proponents and opponents of the resolution. I read all the materials they provided and I asked questions from the SFPUC staff to conduct my “due diligence” on the issue.

The day before the vote, I received a personal call from Mr. Brugmann. After introducing himself to me, he went straight to the point of his call. “If you don’t vote for this resolution,” he said, “I will personally see to it that you are never elected to public office in San Francisco.”

Why couldn’t he talk to me intelligently? Why couldn’t he just explain the benefits of public power? Why did he believe that threatening me was the best way to secure my vote?”

It is one thing to advocate for one’s position in the public square loudly and forcefully - that is the right all Americans enjoy under our system. But when people shift to the tactics of bullying, threatening and lobbying personal attacks at others simply because they disagree with their opinions is not. It is the tactic of the extremist, and has no place in an educated and civil city such as San Francisco.

Read the rest of Mr. Rodis’ story on the web at:

http://pinoywired.com/2008/10/14/standing-up-to-a-bully/