Mr. Applebaum protests vehemently against residents of NDG who dare to question his activities as a real estate agent in relation to his office as president of the consultative committee on urban planning which makes decisions on zoning and the demolition of buildings (CCU). ('Enough is enough'- The Chronicle, Martin C. Barry, April 9, 2008).

Applebaum once again attempts to intimidate the citizens and even his fellow borough council members by threatening legal action against "a person from the public" or "an elected representative" if anyone should dare to bring up this question again. In this open display of arrogance and contempt, the borough mayor has revealed so much.

As voters, we have the right and, indeed, the ethical and moral obligation to question those we have elected to public office. No one has accused Mr. Applebaum of a conflict of interest. Concerned citizens of NDG have attended borough council meetings regularly and observed everything. Those who have had the courage to come before his throne have asked him to explain how he is able to separate his various activities without some droplet of information from one occupation seeping out into another field or colouring a decision. Mr. Applebaum's response to the public's inquiries is uttered as scripted, always avoiding an explanation.

We believe it is essential for citizens to ensure that those who are elected to serve the community - or the province or the country or indeed, in offices of the United Nations, public companies and organizations that operate in the public sphere - are scrupulously truthful and responsible.

Daily news from around the world and around our community reveals that there is much reason to keep a close eye on people in power. I hold that, if we do not, we have only to look at the conditions for citizens of other countries to see the consequences of naivete, timidity and silence. Qui tacet consentit. Never again!

Regards,

Phyllis Carter