Word to the Sachem...

       

Little did I realize when I grabbed these 2 shots off the net, how similar they would be in angle, style.. kinda spooky.

(lithograph courtesty of pbaldwin, photo of the Muni building from the City website)

Allright, we don't specifically have our own Boss Tweed, although Im sure there are several people who could bear that name working for the city these days.

Oh, you don't know Tammany? The Tammany Society (a alleged Native American saint, though who canonized him no one is sure) was founded in 1789, as a patriotic and charitable organization. A few years later, it became politcal - under the leadership of Aaron Burr. Within 25 years, it would become the dominant political force in the emerging Manhattan. In 1868, William "Boss" Tweed was elected the head of Tammany, or Grand Sachem. It was under his rule Tammany became the model of corruption and civic improvement (yes, you read that right).

Why do I bring this up? And how does this relate to Roanoke? Well... it was a post on the Roanoke.com messageboards that caught my eye.

The post: deaconjones on 5/5/2006 6:01:30 PM wrote:
Don't stop with Victory Stadium.

Roanoke Parks and Recreation should be abolished as it provides no real value to

the recreation of valley citizens , but is actually a welfare program for the connected.

Most of the recreation and league programs could very well be handled
by the sports participants, parent or volunteer organizations. Speaking
from my own personal experience my best tennis partner who is most
likely the best tennis player in the valley was targeted by Parks and
Recreation for giving free tennis lessons to kids at the main city
courts. He was blacklisted by P and R and physically removed by police
from city tennis courts.



Let's shut down the P and R bums and convert their buildings over to real recreation.
__________________________________________

Now granted, this could be the ramblings of a nut on the messageboards, and with no substantial facts to back it up - what are you gonna do? But I asked around, and as Forgotten-Roanoke.com and the blog you are reading have wormed their way into the hearts of dozens, I now find myself with grapevine. I never had grapevine before, it's interesting.

But still, that post doesnt give much in the way of info does it? Well.. from my understanding - the Parks and Rec Dept. has employed nearly everyone in this city at one time or other. Which kinda makes it hard to come down on them. Everyone needs a job as a teen, lifeguard - snack bar attendant, what have you. But then came the harder-to-dispell rumors. Jobs gained in Parks and Rec through family working for the city, relatives, friends.. I heard of one story in which certain people were hired because of attractiveness - and who wouldn't want a good looking *fill in the gender* in a bathing suit all summer? There are deeper storys, but those are not for me to tell. Suffice it to say, it's not the "wholesome summer job" we would want for our children.

But then rumors started flying from other branches - department heads who were inept at the job being kept on simply because they had a friend in the city council, or were related to someone higher than them. A solid "no comment" policy on the demands placed on a worker.

Back in the days of Tammany, it was $300 bucks for a badge. The average weekly wage was $5. Tammany "loaned" you the money, after which you repaid them with interest and deed. I wonder if the price of a badge or appointed job these days is higher. Perhaps your soul.

Again, I have no specific truth to any of this, and I am not making any claims. All I am doing is asking, is Roanoke the new home of Tammany Hall?

I am not judging, not without further information anyway. It's just something to think about.