The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/27337
R.o.B.S. Like a good neighbor, A. mayor causes trouble TAZEWELL, Tenn. _ A tiny Tennessee town’s so-called “good neighbor” ordinance has many of Tazewell’s 2,165 residents feel- ing anything but. Tazewell Mayor Mitchell Honeycutt champi- oned the new law, which authorizes police to write citations for “unkind or un-neighborly” behavior. At a recent _ and rather heated _ public hearing about the ordinance, Honeycutt explained that this meant “any behavior that violates the Golden Rule” of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Republican mayor took the unusual step of sending a mailing out to all Tazewell households, regardless of party or voter registration, to explain the new law. In the mailing, Honeycutt wrote: “Too often we Tazewellians turn a blind eye to rude or discourteous behavior. The Good Neighbor ordinance will give us all incentive to change our behavior to better reflect the principles of Southern hospitality for which our region was once renowned.” At the hearing, many residents were out- spoken in their criticism of the law, calling it unethical, tyrannical and just plain mean. One man, who declined to give his name, delivered a spitting tirade against Honeycutt, ending his speech with a Patrick Henry-like flourish that earned a standing ovation from the capacity crowd. “I’ve been a mean old cuss for longer than most of you (expletive) politicians have been alive,” the man shouted. “And I’ll keep right on going until I’m dead. You can try to stop me, you can throw me in jail if you want. But you damned well can’t make me love my neighbor!” The local Chamber of Commerce, on the other hand, has embraced the ordinance, launching a PR campaign that calls Tazewell “the friendliest town in the South.” “We have long known that Tazewell is a friendly and hospitable community,” Chamber President Norma Estes said. “Now the rest of the world will know it, too.” The Chamber’s campaign may be cut short, however; a lawsuit filed Monday in Claiborne County Court argues that the new law violates the First Amendment rights of the towns- people. It’s hard to tell what’s true these days. Take a gander below, and guess if A. and B. are Real or B.S. (Answers at the bottom of the page.) Smart phone, dumb B. idea from Idaho driver BOISE, Idaho _ Authorities say a smart phone and a dumb idea have landed a 21-year-old Idaho man in trouble with the law. Boise police say Alexander A. Welch is charged with unlawful exercise of the func- tion of police after officers say he used a cell phone app that flashes blue and red to try to pull over another car Saturday night. A motorist called police to report that someone who didn't appear to be an of- ficer tried to pull the driver over with a flashing blue and red light. The person said the car pulled in behind briefly and then drove away. The suspicious driver followed the car and called police, who located Welch's vehicle. Police found an application on Welch's cell phone that flashed blue and red lights and arrested him. Think something should be in the O-Town Scene? E-mail editor@otownscene.com 26 O-Town Scene March 17, 2011 A. is B.S., by Emily Popek; B. is real.