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| Op-Ed Briefs: Fire Chief Allegedly Threatens "Budget Bill's" Life; South Africa, After the Fall. |
By: Christopher J. Wilmot
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Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 6:42 am
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Johannesburg, South Africa - It looks like TV reporter Berkeley Brean is finally back in the loop. Though if Brean was ever out of the loop, it would appear it was through no fault of his own. According to a secret audio tape recording now in the possession of WHEC TV-10, Rochester Fire Chief John Caufield can be heard--seemingly--threatening the life of Rochester City Hall Budget Director Bill Ansbrow!
Now Caufield may have been speaking metaphorically, sarcastically, or just blowing off steam, or all of the above, but the Channel 10 transcript provided on WHEC's website appears pretty damning.
In short, Caufield was ranting in front of 35-40 firefighters at a Fire Hall in December, 2009, regarding Bill Ansbrow's proposed Fire Department budget cuts, when an unidentified individual in the room decided to record the Chief's unkind verbal attacks on Ansbrow, or whom the Chief calls "Budget Bill."
Caufield: "If you're waiting for me to address your problems, you're gonna wait a long time. My job is pretty simple, it's to keep "Budget Bill", grab him, stuff him in the box, put the lid on the box, and watch the box to make sure he doesn't get out. That's my job right now. And I can't afford to fail on that without putting everything we [firefighters] do at risk...to be honest...to stuff him in the box and make sure the box stays nailed down, and all that kind of stuff..."
Caufield, now really on a rant: "...So I have to really restrain myself from killing him first ...I gotta drive him out...this is bullshit, pardon my french...I don't care what he [Bill Ansbrow] does to the Police Department...".
Caufield now attacks Ansbrow's family: "...Even "Budget Bill" deserves fire protection. Well, maybe not "Budget Bill", but his family does...".
How gracious and kind of the Fire Chief of a City of some 200,000 people to say that he guesses his arch enemy's family "deserves fire protection", but the father and husband of the family, according to Fire Chief Caufield, does not deserve the same protection!
John Caufield has gone into one too many burning houses and buildings without his oxygen mask on. If Mayor Duffy has any balls, it's time he laid this old fire dog to rest. It is high time Mayor Robert Duffy fire, the "Fire" Chief, John Caufield. These threats against Bill Ansbrow, and his vague, pseudo threats, on audio tape, made against Fire Fighter's Union Chief Jim McTiernan, as well as his inappropriate advocacy of Molly Clifford's ascendancy make it clear that Caufield is not fit to remain in his job. Will Mayor Duffy do the right thing? Unfortunately, probably not.
For the full transcript and audio portion of Caufield's 12/09 speech, visit WHEC TV-10.com.
So you think Life in America is Rough?
Consider the fate of poor young Anika Smit, the 17-year old 11th grade female who was recently barbarically raped, dismembered, and found dead in her father's home, in Pretoria, South Africa. Anika had previously been a runaway, and had once lived with her mother. According to the largest national circulation newspaper in South Africa, "The Star" (3/13/10 edition), it was not known why she left her mother's home, why Anika ran away, or how long she had been living with her father in Pretoria.
While most police reports seem unduly sketchy in South Africa, here's what we the readers know so far: 'Law enforcement' officials claim that Anika likely knew her killers, since police claim there were no signs of forced entry. Police also maintain that the attack happened on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, whilst Anika was at home, during a school day, recovering from an ear infection.
Allegedly, the killers confronted Anika in her bedroom, restrained her, repeatedly raped her, made her suffer the unbelievably painful and degrading horror of hacking-off her arms, then murdered the 17 year old. Miss Smit's father allegedly first discovered her dead body, but police initially claim he is not a suspect.
It is notable that South Africa still is regarded by Interpol, UNICEF, and the CIA as holding the world's dubious distinction as having the highest rate of reportable rape! Authorities have asked anyone with any information about this ghastly crime to call 0027 8600 10111 (will work anywhere in the world, calling to South Africa). If in South Africa, dial 08600 10111. Thank you.
Why Pay South African Municipal Taxes when local Governments Do Not Perform Their Tasks?
All over this nation of 48 million residents, in a country 87 days away from hosting the most important, widely watched television event on Planet Earth--F.I.F.A.'s World Cup--a multitude of municipalities around this nation, especially in the western and southwestern regions, regularly do not provide their citizens even the most basic public services.
So what is a hard working, 'former' taxpaying resident to do? Create a resident's "Tax Trust", by-passing certain local governments that refuse to provide drinkable water, proper sewage collection and disposal, along with shirking garbage pick-up, and sub-contract these services out, yourself!
While highly illegal in the U.S. (and it would be rarely necessary), these are the lengths some South Africans have felt forced to go to, to simply live in a community that, works. And some local judges are up-holding their right to withhold their taxes, and maintain these, for lack of a better term, "Taxpayer Trusts." Expect court battles to reach higher levels. And what do local governments have to say for themselves regarding these South African 'Tea Party' types? Very little in the way of a defense.
Media and Tax Trust representatives claim that hundreds of municipalities around the former world capital of Apartheid routinely mismanage local taxpayer funds, and when local governments don't pay their bills on behalf of the residents they allegedly represent, services to taxpayers are regularly cut-off. What is a 8-5, hard working local taxpayer to do? It looks like, at least for now, these municipal rebels have found a way to sidestep corrupt and inefficient local government. Bully to them!
South Africa Slips to Number Four in Worldwide Gold Production
Ever since gold was discovered in them there South African hills (and mines) in 1886, for many decades since, South Africa has led the world in the mining, fabricating, and sale of gold. No longer. Now the top four list, in order of highest production begins with...you guessed it: China, Australia, The United States, and South Africa.
According to The Star, the two chief reasons South Africa has slipped to its latest inglorious fourth place ranking, are, 1.) Understandably, many mines have simply been exhausted of their gold reserves over the last 124 years. And, 2.) Less understandable, "power disruptions" (in the U.S., we tend to call them more casually 'brown-outs, or 'black-outs'). However, since we've been in South Africa, we've experienced a number of brown outs, and one multi-hour black out, in the middle of the night.
"Power disruptions" are hardly the mark of a first world nation about to host soccer's biggest, once every four years tournament. My best wishes to the post-Apartheid, growing by leaps and bounds, one step forward, two steps back, new-hope nation of South Africa. May the games begin!
Christopher J. Wilmot served as a Legislator in the Monroe County Legislature from 1996-2005. He is currently residing in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he is Executive Producer for the film entitled, "Lucky", due for worldwide release later this year.
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