By DON P.
HURLEY
Contributing
Editor
HarryHurley.com
May 4,
2005
In a debate before the Venice
Park Civic Association last night in Atlantic City, Bob Levy, the fledgling
candidate for Mayor called Mayor Lorenzo Langford an "Expert
Politician".
Now, my definition of
politician, is the person who tries to make others believe that he is something
he is not.
In Levy's short campaign for
Mayor thus far, he has misused public employees, equipment and property for his
own personal gain. Levy has attempted to reinforce a false
impression that has always been tough on crime, interested in Community
Policing, and supportive of the public safety unions and their real
concerns. This is all false!
Levy has even resorted to
conjuring up and misusing the memories of deceased individuals, such as
ACHS Principal William Faunce to buttress his falsehood that Levy was "kicked
out of ACHS" in the 1960's for inter-racial dating.
Levy has persisted in using
images of the late Mayor James Usry, against the wishes of the Usry family, who
know Levy's true relationship of betrayal against the deceased Mayor by
Levy.
And, now most recently, Levy
has stooped to new lows in misusing the tragic death of a young Atlantic
City star athlete, Jamar Reynolds, (who was murdered in a drive-by shooting
on Rt. 30 in the early morning hours), in his latest exploitative television ad.
This occurred in June of 2003,
but Levy would have you tie this into the recent rash of youth violence. This is
especially egregious, to the reality that Levy has no
relationship of support or involvement to this young man at all, while
Mayor Langford did have a real impact on this deceased man's life. (Bob Levy,
have you no shame at all!)
Bob Levy has no history or
record of supporting youth programs or initiatives designed to keep young people
off of the streets and in pursuit of useful endeavors. In fact, he
supported his good friend ,Jim Whelan, in slashing support to the Police
Athletic League and other programs that truly were keeping the Atlantic City
youth from trouble.
Now Levy can be seen talking
about keeping kids in school, (although he now admits he quit himself and wasn't
"kicked out"). Levy can now be seen in playgrounds with his arm around
young African-American children feigning support for youth
activities.
When has anyone seen Bob Levy
present at any sports, community or Civic event, before his cheesy campaign
for Mayor of Atlantic City? The truth is never....because he never has been a
participant in any of them.
Mayor Lorenzo Langford was
right last night when he informed the citizens of the Venice Park Civic
Association that "there is a stranger among us".
I am quite sure that they
already knew this, in view of the fact that, although Levy has been a resident
of Venice Park for 30 years, he only joined the Venice Park Civic Association
group last week! This could be described as the play of an "expert
politician", you might say.
To the contrary, Mayor
Langford, who Levy attempted to label the "Expert Politician", is exactly the
opposite. What you see is what you get with Mayor Langford. He simply is, who he
conducts himself to be, (to the consternation of the career political network of
our area).
Mayor Langford has a full life
in support of the development of young people in Atlantic City. He has always
been active in civic, community and youth groups as a member and
volunteer.
Mayor Langford's
annual educational trips to Washington, DC and his life-long work with the
Atlantic City Police Athletic League have made a real difference in the youth of
Atlantic City. What record does Bob Levy have?
To the contrary, Bob Levy
offered no opportunities in 2003 (and probably before), to the youth of Atlantic
City when he advised the city fathers and mothers that their was "just too much
interest from Veteran Lifeguards from outside of Atlantic City", to give young
people an opportunity in the AC Beach Patrol. Bob Levy would never
have had a chance if business was done like this in his time of
interest.
Remember, if the definition of
a politician is attempting to make others believe you are who you are not.
Than Bob Levy is practicing the age-old political ruse upon the
people of Atlantic City as we speak.
The problem for Levy at this
juncture, (as Mayor Langford aptly put it), the people of Atlantic City know a
stranger when they see one.
So, in the end, you have Mayor
Langford, the true career public servant, and now Bob Levy who has truly
revealed himself as the "Career Politician". That's what politicians try to
do...they try to fool people And, Bob Levy's not fooling anybody in
Atlantic City, they know who he is.
CLICK HERE: THE PRESS WATCH "ARTICLES" BY DON P. HURLEY
May 4, 2005 HarryHurley.com