The truth. Whole truth. Nothing but the truth. This familiar oath request ends frequently with ‘so help me God’ although deities and those who hawk religion in Trenton seemingly have followed Elvis out of both building and city limits. As a fan of good government, Republican, Democrat, or third party, God, transparency, personal responsibility, and honesty, an internal disturbance exists with the impending death of decent democracy in Trenton. When lies substitute for truth, when leaders and persons who shadow them indulge in blatant dishonesty without any sense of shame, when politicians stand as shapeshifters in complete disregard of Robert’s Rules, then good government expires from suffocation. This current Trenton City Council, one which proclaims being better than their predecessors, continues a misguided in-bed relationship with Mayor Reed Gusciora. These politicians have become patsies, inclined to fall to pieces each time Gusciora stands before them. Being respectful in politics, in life, sure, such behaviors matter but members of City Council exhibit no power and during a recent misstep, allowed the Gusciora steamroller to walk on confirmation of Arch Liston, as permanent director of Housing and Economic Development. Not one City Council representative displayed the necessary fortitude, nor exhibited representation of Trenton residents to stop the Gusciora romp. None of the elected officials realized their derrières had been time-stamped with mayoral sole imprints. “I don’t like when people say we’re rubberstampers for the mayor,” At-large Councilwoman Jasi Edwards admitted. Understood, although the Council’s earned the identification with kid glove treatment of Mayor Gusciora on numerous issues, including federal investigations, attorney general probes, city violence, anti-social police behaviors outlined in a scathing Department of Justice report, money-guzzling projects, chronic water utility issues, wrongful terminations, law suits, crime, and disregard for jurisprudence, etc. Minimal criticisms and look aways from documented malfeasance renders these leaders as Gusciora disciples. Their ginormous untruth that an investigation into whether Liston made inappropriate remarks tinged with Jewish innuendo to a police Lt. Alexis Durlacher, a Jew, had returned an unsubstantiated appraisal, disregarded an email penned by Law Director Wes Bridges. That Sept. 5 correspondence offered a heads-up notice to Business Administrator Maria Richardson, Chief of Staff Jim Beach, and Gusciora. “Please find attached report on the Liston/Durlacher incident,” alerted Bridges. “In anticipation of litigation, we should adopt recommendations to offer a written warning and provide training which we already have in place. “I will have counsel draft a letter to Durlacher, that the investigation is completed and based on the investigative report…..the city will be issuing certain discipline and other corrective action including, but not limited to, training in response to your complaint. This matter is now closed,” Bridges declared, although this vacuum-sealed can of worms needs re-opening. City Council produced its latest faux pas with a last-minute cancellation of a meeting on January 21st, due to “technical difficulties”. A late announcement to the public forced another cancellation until the following week. Edwards, on Facebook, posted an apology for a serious delay in doing city business while Gusciora voiced no concern on the failure of this city council. Had this malfeasance and dereliction occurred during a previous council, members would have suffered mayoral excoriation. And, the Jewish question? Several previous council members rightfully received criticism following their brush with anti-Semitic rhetoric. If the Bridges email identified Liston as culprit then we should judge him and his enablers similarly. Anti-semitism, racism, gender bias and other social loathing survive when people desert their responsibility to speak out against negative behaviors. City Council members with influence from Mayor Gusciora voted unanimously to appoint Arch Liston as director of Housing & Economic Development. Bridges said city council could reverse its decision via a two-third majority vote. Trenton residents should demand such a reversal until officials pursue and then deliver the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].