Who will save Gotham City?Written by Ray Shay

Editorial note - Until this morning, I have always avoided writing specifically about politics. I just couldn't turn a blind eye to a series of events that are shaping our community. I will provide the opportunity for an opposing view in next week's Community Hub eWeekly. Please send your thoughts to editor@communityhubeweekly.com. 

 

 

As our family walked up to the front door of our home in San Diego, California, I looked up and saw a beautiful full moon on another crystal blue night in our city by the Pacific Ocean. As I breathed in the clean, ocean-scented air, I thought about how much I love living here and how proud I am to call San Diego our home.

The moon reminded me we were hosting the international and appropriately fun and crazy, Comic-Con Convention. A diverse gathering of both super heroes and artists. I guess I have always been a dreamer, because when I looked up again into the San Diego night sky, I wondered if the real Batman would appear tonight and save us, because we really need a hero right now.

  

There is a somber and dark cloud hanging over America's Finest City. The cause of this sense of impending doom is a villain among us. He is rallying his supporters to maintain 

Bob "The Joker" Filner

his elected stranglehold on our citizenry. While admitting to being a bully, and that he acted "inappropriately" and "wrong," he is still unwilling to quit.  

I believe most of us in this town have lost confidence in his ability to lead and are equally intolerant to his archaic and illegal treatment of woman.  

The villain I am talking about is none other than our very own dishonorable, City of San Diego Mayor, Bob Filner.  Like the purple suited, "Joker" of Batman fame, he has his own agenda. He is neither a nice man or a leader.  

Bob has gone rogue, dancing around kicking dishes and silverware off our dining room table, which was professionally and neatly arranged by San Diego's  former Mayor Jerry Sanders. Bob "The Joker" Filner throws colored smoke grenades to distract everyone as he smiles broadly and then leaps to his next catastrophe.  

With each new press conference, Bob "The Joker" Filner ignites a new smoke grenade as  adiversion by saying things like, "I deserve due process" or "Michael Eckland is now in charge." Business leaders, military leaders and just good old-fashioned moms and dads are not fooled for a moment by his shenanigans. 

Can you imagine any CEO of a publicly-traded company or a United States Military Commanding Officer reporting to his superiors at 70-years-old he "has a problem working with women" while still demanding to stay in command? Bob, the year is 2013! In one word or two our answer should still be a resounding, "No." The Joker should leave. 

I admit it, I am a retired City of San Diego employee. I am much like other past and current city employees in that I felt honored every day to have the City of San Diego seal on my uniform as well as in the center of the gold badge that rested over my heart. 

  
While on duty as a police officer, I must have said the words San Diego over a million times. Often it was followed by the word "police" and sometimes it was before kicking a door in, helping someone in distress or pointing my service weapon at an armed criminal. Each and every time those words left my mouth, I was proud of what we all represented and the trust the City of San Diego had placed in my fellow employees and myself.  

I don't think we should allow Bob Filner or anyone else to take away the sparkle of our city, nor the bright future for our children. It is time for him to go. Maybe the superhero to save us will be Nathan Fletcher, Kevin Faulconer, local law enforcement, a past leader, or a group of them who will step forward and help Bob realize the honorable and right thing for him to do is to resign.  

When they meet with Mayor Filner, I think they should alert Catwoman. If he refuses to quit, I would love to see her square off with "The Joker" on that long disheveled dining room table with the soiled white tablecloth he has made such a mess of. Bob is so arrogant and set in his old-fashioned political ways, he may be dumb enough to ask Catwoman to dance. 

Just as I love the City of San Diego, I would want to see Catwoman's slightly tilt her head as her precious, demure smile slowly crosses her face, just prior to the POW, ZAP, BAM!

Have a great week and always remember to vote. It is our greatest power.

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Ray and Theresa Shay   

  

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