Brookline.news reports one member of the town Advisory Committee - which studies proposed ordinances forTown Meeting - tore into some Brookline High students who had the unmitigated gall to propose ordinances to ban the sale of animals in local shops and the use of elephants and other animals in any circuses that might visit the town.
Sure, some committee members said neither ordinance seemed necessary since Brookline has no pet shops and it hasn't seen any circuses of late, but committee member Paul Bernard went further and told the students they were puppets with "a Messiah complex" who should stop wasting town officials' valuable time.
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Cue Toucher and Rich
By Will LaTulippe
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 5:36pm
Seriously, imagine hating teenagers.
To be fair
By BostonDog
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 6:45pm
Many Brookline committee members hate everyone who isn't a wealthy homeowner.
Had a friend who was a
By xyz
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 9:23am
Had a friend who was a Brookline town meeting member for many years. Story checks out.
What was incorrect
By anon
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 6:30pm
About that statement?
The part where
By perruptor
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 12:34am
The part where he used words.
What a fantastic way
By brianjdamico
Wed, 10/11/2023 - 8:08pm
to discourage young people from having the desire to engage in the democratic process. A government of, for and by the people, and at the TOWN level you think your time is being wasted by proposals?
If you don't want to field proposals from constituents, in local government of all places, perhaps a position in the local government isn't a good fit for you.
I think that was the point.
By anon
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 9:12am
I think that was the point.
It interferes with his visions of grandeur as a lowly town official.
Yes but then how would he
By xyz
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 9:20am
Yes but then how would he know that he's better than the neighbors? You see the conundrum here.
Is this guy a paid employee
By anon
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 9:51am
Is this guy a paid employee or a citizen volunteer? Either way, I think it's time to find someone else for this task.
Hey, uh...
By necturus
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 6:00am
...wanna buy an elephant? Be the first in your block to own one.
If those kids are smart and resourceful
By J.R. Dobbs
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 8:02am
They'll bring a term and age limits ordinance before the next committee and livestream the meltdown.
Paul Bernard was HANDED this "job" over the summer.
By J.R. Dobbs
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 8:09am
Meanwhile; Ezra Kleinbaum, a 16-year-old Brookline High School junior helped lead the successful passage of a previous proposal at Town Meeting that banned the retail sale of new animal furs in Brookline. WHEN HE WAS ONLY 14!
Mr. Bernard has shown his true, miserable, and power hungry self for EXACTLY who he is.
See ya Paul! Have fun watching birds.
How to make a valid point in the worst way possible.
By CopleyScott17
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 10:21am
The guy's not wrong: kids (everyone, really) with strong feelings on an emotional subject can sometimes lead with their hearts, not their brains. Look at the Harvard students loudly supporting the Hamas attacks. No one is more convinced about the absolute righteousness of their cause than an activist youth. Wisdom and moderation come with maturity.
That said, telling students they're wasting the government's time is reprehensible. If he really feels that way, he should resign.
youth are the problem?
By anon
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 10:37am
FTFY.
also
oh you were serious? allow me to laugh even harder.
Paul Bernard Go Away
By anon
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 10:27am
Youth concerned about animal rights, oh my!
God forbid town “leaders” have a dialogue with future voters.
Ballot boxes work
By SwirlyGrrl
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 11:34am
Interesting. Dude doesn't seem to realize how today's high school students very quickly become voters - voters who can turn this self-important whiner out on his rump.
They are also becoming successful candidates for local office with ready-made constituencies. Perhaps he should talk to his colleagues in Medford - two fairly recent grads are incumbents on the city council, and more are on the ballot for School Committee.
OK, except for…
By Dogalicious
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 1:13pm
OK, but can we make an exception for squirrels? Keep supplying live squirrels, please? I've noticed a definite deficiency of squirrels in Brookline!
Woof!
♫ "I'd love to help you, son,
By anon
Thu, 10/12/2023 - 2:29pm
... but you're too young to vote."
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