John Szabo is a friendly, dedicated and long-time Northampton County employee. He's even nice to me! Active in the union, he attends nearly every county council meeting. But tonight, John approached council on behalf of his son, who passed away eight years ago this month.John is a leader of The Compassionate Friends, a group that supports families who lose a child. In a quavering voice, he asked council to give his group $13,500 for a memorial garden, where families could go to remember lost loved ones. Bethlehem Township has already donated a portion of a park for this garden, and Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech has agreed to do the planning and construction.
In John's words, "The centerpiece of this garden will be an enlargement of the logo of our organization to a twenty-foot diameter paved area. Surrounding this area will be various walls and planting boxes where the stones could be removed and replaced with ones on which a child's name could be engraved. My dream is that any family who would want their child memorialized here could do so without spending any money: they have paid too great a price already."
Unanimously, council awarded Szabo $13,500.
7 comments:
That sounds like a perfect project for the Vo-Tech.
It's so hard to take issue with requests like this for fear of being perceived as insensitive. But without spending public dollars, aren't there a plethora of existing places to go to honor/remember/reflect about deceased individuals? Synagogues, churches, temples, parks, gardens, [Starbucks], private gatherings...even - on one's knees at bedtime. Whatever suits you, but without added public costs?
I realize that it's not a big amount, but it's the mentality that the "pockets of government are always available" to put salve on these types of wounds.
When I need to reflect, I go to the side of the grave - which I have the luxury of doing because it's within the LV. But that's not the only opportunity/location I have to give light to these feelings. I realize that we all have our own way of grieving and visiting a gravesite may not convenient or may not satisfy everyone's needs, but isn't there some other method to accomodate one's feelings without involving the government?
I expect now that other past similiar legislative actions/precedents will now be presented that will negate the thrust of what I am trying to express. But...there, I said it.
That's what blogs are for.
May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
Anon -
I was debating (with myself) about why public dollars need to be used for this. In the end, I think it's a good idea. It is something for the community, and in the end, could even bring some people closer together.
What I'm more afraid of, however, is how much it will cost to maintain. Will it be maintained through community service?
Hopefully...
Anon 11:14,
I understand your concern, and I think you expressed it w/ sensitivity. Traditionally, people who want money from council are told to wait and make their request at budget time so that it can be reviewed with other requests for funding. Council frowns on the piecemeal approach.
I've seen them do it to help Chapman Borough restore a bridge that had been out for two years. They did it for the skate park bc the money was needed right away. But even then, Cusick expresed reservations about getting into a bad habit.
How many bids were made for the $13,500 needed for paving? Will it be done with union labor? Who will ensure the money is properly disbursed? These are all important questions. None was asked.
In this case, I understand. The person making the request is a very honorable man who hiself is a union activist. And it is a very good cause.
But this request should have come at budget time with all the others so that it could receive better scrutiny. You are right. I just didn't have the guts to say it. You are braver than me.
AJ. Something for the community.
Well, there are probably any number of things that Norco council can do for the community that would - no doubt - bring value to its constituents.
Guess it's just a matter of wisdom, financial discipline, sentiment & policy.
A friend's son was shot cold-blooded as he was going to work and was getting into his car one morning - outside of his house. The killer had issues that a county sponsored outreach program might have addressed. Who knows.
Given these two choices, I would have voted for more funding to the outreach program to help him, or in retrospect, more funds to enlarge the overcrowded jail to hold him.
In this case, I wonder if this person's familiar face (due to his frequent attendance to the council meetings) provided an additional (and understandable) emotional "tug" that caused a grant of this request. Said another way, I wonder if a totally unknown person making this same request - would have had the same outcome.
Bernie's right, these things need to be done in an environment where all competing interests for public monies are presented side-by-side to help remove the well intentioned (and sometimes emotional) requests from the ones that might provide more beneficial societal dividends.
Sometimes you have to lead with your heart. I think it will be a beautiful tribute and money well spent. It will help so many people.
"There's a lot to be said for self-delusionment when it comes to matters of the heart."
Northern Exposure, First Snow (CBS), 1993
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