According to reports in the Express-Times (read it here) and Morning Call (read it here) Nazareth Borough Councilman Conrad Bowers tried his best to incite Borough Park goers hoping to use the brand new Skate Park on Monday by not once, but twice locking the facility down.
To their credit, the forty or so individuals who were trying to use the public facility, waited and waited and waited. A few made phone calls to parents, the Borough offices, the Police, anyone who might be able to explain why the Park facility was closed. As they did others skated around the facility intended for their use but denied for no apparent reason.
At noon following calls received at the Borough and Police officers, interim Chief Koch reopened the area only to have Bowers return and order him to clear it at which time Bowers relocked it.
Bowers told JD Malone of the Express-Times, " "I think it's a liability for the borough. You're talking a straight drop," Bowers said of the 4-foot drop from the deck of the quarterpipes. "I don't consider that to be safe."
Finally at 5:00 p.m. Council President Chiavaroli over-ruled Bowers decision and the Park facility was re-opened.
Bowers acted based on his role as Chairperson of Public Property. At a previous Council meeting a schematic of the Park was presented based on the equipment the Borough was purchasing. The quaterpipes were described as having the loading dock drop off as an option by leaving one of the three rails left off. At another Council meeting, the very issue of who is 'responsible' for the Skate Park was discussed. As I recall no one appointed Bowers as the decision-maker. Instead it was noted that the Park Manager would be responsible and instructed to immediately call police if there was a problem or incident. The responding officer(s) could then determine if it needed to be closed or could be left open.
If Bowers was so concerned with liability, one has to wonder why he was not on site (and if he did why he didn't express his concerns) when the insurance company representative reviewed it or when the equipment manufacturer was assembling the pieces of the Skate Park.
Bowers, who lost his bid to be re-elected to his Council seat in the primary, was previously relieved of his duty as chairman of the transition committee when he first refused to allow the public to attend open meetings and then when he did let them come refused to allow them to speak.
It appears to me that Bowers baited the individuals who came to the Park to use the new Skate facility and they didn't take it. Fortunately, as a result of their restraint (we are mostly talking about teens) the consequences of Bowers actions did not result in any retaliation or correlated incidents.
At the end of the day, it would seem that Councilman Conrad Bowers is the biggest liability in the Borough at this time.
What do you think?
14 comments:
Let me say some things directly to these people running our state into the ground: skateboarding is not safe. This is why parks like Penn Skate make you sign papers before skating in the park, to alleviate responsibility from the owner of Penn. Another thing: having a skatepark is not going to stop us from skating the streets. By giving us a park you are providing a "safer" (and i use the term lightly, seeing the ridiculous behavior of the police these days) environment, and some will use it. This does not, however, satisfy one of the core elements of skateboarding: exploration. Do you wonder why we choose to skate the city rather than the skatepark? (other than monetary concerns, which should not be an issue to begin with) It's because the people in "authority" will never know the feeling of happening upon an immensely fun marble ledge, stairset, handrail etc. that you can use to your creative ability without worrying about others ruining it. Let me address the issue of "destruction of private property." If you ever see a ledge with the edges completely shaven down to a rough, rocky interior: that was the work of bikers. Grinds on a skateboard do much less than people mistakenly perceive. We use wax to make the object slide, without wax it is nearly impossible to grind it. BMXers, however, don't. I see these "skatestoppers" on sh*t that's above my WAIST and they somehow find it physically possible for skateboarders to grind. Insanity. Bikers can ONLY grind high ledges due to the placement of the pegs on their bikes. If anything, cracking down on them would be a solution easier accepted. I recently had my board confiscated for a very short time by some security guards. No lie, I was transporting myself ON THE SIDEWALK BEEESSSIIIIDDEE the high school and they determined that I was far too dangerous to be set free to go to my own home with my own property. So they took it. It seems to me that they fear us. We threaten their football-playing, polo shirt-wearing, white bread society that they work so hard to protect. Don't fear us. If you want to see something scary, look into how greedy and sheepish the people supposedly looking out for us really are.
peace & <3
One point, it is not about destruction of private property as much as it is respect for someone's private property.
I work hard and so do a lot of other people for the money we earn. I have to carefully chose how to spend it. I take pride in my home and keeping my property maintained.
Having someone identifying my property, steps, porch, driveway, etc., as a playground for them to skate on is disrespectful.
At the end of the day, this is what upsets a lot of people.
will
I say this in a positive and constructive manner...please write in multiple paragraphs instead of one long run-on paragraph. It's very confusing to read.
EZ Will. Avoid the conflict, respect others and property and we'll all (start to) get the respect right back.
The same way these skaters are getting UPZ from Ross here for not beating down ol' man Bowers and his warped sense of reality.
Great work skaters!
To heck with the kids who cause trouble, I honestly can't believe some of the adults around this area.
I wish I lived here long enough to put faces to names. I was skating the park early Sunday morning - mostly to avoid humiliation, it was my first time back on a board in almost nine years - and this 40 something y/o guy on rollerblades (who knew all the other adults that came by to have a look) comes rolling into the park nearly killing himself. Why he was on blades is beyond me, I guess he needed a reason to come into the park.
After a couple nice words like good morning, great day, he starts trash talking the park and the kids to me.. while I'm standing on a skate board.. on the top of a ramp.
I'm thinking, you're kidding me, right.
Now, I'm no spring chicken (32), so I don't know if he thought I'd see his side of things, or if he had just fell and bumped his head, but man, some people are just plain ignorant.
OH BTW - What a great little park it is!
Tho, at least for me, it won't be complete until they get a half-pipe in there.
What I would have done for this in my youth!!
- - -
Ross, you know the local gov't better than I. Will Bowers (hopefully) see any type of discipline for this? Or do they just leave it to pure public humiliation?
I'm thankful the Express published this!
grew up in so cal in 70's in skateboardings early days ---
my brother was really into it so my dad and he built a plywood ramp for him and his friends and they tore up in our driveway and on our sidewalks
if he had been caught grinding or whatever Will calls it on others property w/out the property owners consent he would have had h**l to catch at home
my point is that it comes down to parental responsibility--
the discussion from the mom defending her son who was clearly breaking the "rules" on the b ball court is nonsensical---change the rules if you can, effect change--but to teach your kids to just ignore the rules instills the belief that they are somehow above them---then to defend and support your kid by saying you taught them to somehow think they are above the law furthers the nonsense platform
parents seem to forget the accountability factor---we are all accountable for our actions--and the selfish few that show no respect for others and their property have evidently not been taught---or unlike my brother don't catch h**l at home for destructive, disrespectful behavior
and I for one would love to hear the officers side of it
wonder how many times the officer has heard from drivers that they are sick of the boarders using the streets as playgrounds with total disregard for the traffic the roads were actually meant for
as for the opening of the park wish there had been a post on it
I attended with my young children and was thrilled to see the enthusiasm and comaradery (sp?) displayed---
great addition to our rec in Naz and I hope they get the kniks worked out soon
Wasnt the issue of insurance the biggest worry for the park? I was under the influence this was a "skate at your own risk" facility? Maybe im wrong here, I just thought that was the rule. If it isnt then yes, the guy probably had a legitimate gripe for locking it down..
Anyway Will, im hoping that you dont attend Nazareth High School and are an honor roll student. Did they ever bother to teach you kids sentence structure or spelling? uhhhh..
Please lets not get onto this private property, disrespect issue again. All the homeowners (who dont have a skater kid) and hard working taxpayers all conceed that skateboarders/ bikers , whoever are rude, discourteous kids. All skaters/bikers/ unemployed who dont own anything will all say .." we dont have a place to go, and its just not us its the rest of society whos wrong".. okay we had this debate last week.. move on with your lives!!
Ryan, I hope your weren't a graduate from Nazareth. Take another read of your post, it is not much better than Will's. Debate the issue, not attack the person.
My question is how a person like Bowers, who seems to have completely left the reservation, is still part of the local government.
maybe I am too old school but I am happy someone is demanding accountability from the skaters right from the start
granted Bowers may have gone too far with the railings but it sounds like that was more of a communication issue than anything else
but Bowers was on the mark with the trash factor
I saw it, it was a mess and set the ground rules from the beginning-you trash it you lose it
but still Ross why not a post on the grand opening?
and ryan sorry about the digress
you are right it was too little too late but i couldn't post earlier my thoughts on the lack of parental input and I see it so much it just baffles me but you were right and I have gotten on with my life sort to speak :)
A few scattered comments:
Bowers has not been re-elected but his term runs through the end of 2007. I personally would like some clarification regarding individual authority of members of Council. We do have a working council to some extent, but sometimes elected officials get too far into micromanagement and that appears to have been the case here. I personally think he over-stepped his authority without having his facts in hand before acting.
To give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe 'facts' were reported to the public incorrectly. I don't think this will end soon. We'll probably find out.
Insurance, to the best of my knowledge from the Council meetings, the Borough is covered for liability, the individual is responsible for his own actions, ie Skate at your own risk. I'm neither an attorney or insurance agent so I don't have the full understanding, but in essence the borough can't be sued (and is covered if they are) by someone who hurts themself on the equipment.
The posted rules were reviewed by the borough insurance company and as I understand it guidance was provided to Council regarding some issues around the Park. One of which appears (and this may or may not be true) to be the more hands off you are the less at risk of lawsuit in the event something happens. The more you regulate and monitor, the more you are responsible for their safety and well-being.
This obviously is a huge catch 22.
See my post today for more on this.
Final one, I didn't post a story on the opening because I didn't see an article to quote and I wasn't there.
I'd encourage and do, readers who want to report on an event or meeting to do so. You can send me a story by email and let me know if you want it attributed to you or not. The goal is for everyone else to write and me to post up and throw-in my two-cents worth. So far Brad is the only one to buy-in with School Board, but everyone is welcome to!
Thanks to all, and remember to stay off personal stuff and on-topic, best wishes.
conrad bowers doesnt even know anything about skateboarding or safety issuses with skating.. so he should just stay out of it, the thing he was crying about was 2 railings that were OPTIONAL!!! he should do his homework next time before he acts on somethign dumb like that again.
peace
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