New Zealand’s mayor has seen a surge in support after his brutal response to persistent conspiracy theorists constituents who have directed threats against council staff for years.
In an email exchange last year, the mayor of Thames-Coromandel District in New Zealand’s North Island, Len Salt, ended his message with a blunt suggestion to the individual: “Go yourself.”
The correspondence comes from conspiracy theorists, accusing Salt and the council of engaging in “grossly illegal actions,” describing them as “fictitious entities” with “the intent to coerce, deceive, and enslave” individuals and others.
Salt told local media he considered the request for personal information about staff members a worrying escalation of an ongoing threat.
Len Salt has a clear recommendation for one constituent. Mayor Len Salt/Facebook
Describing the individual as part of the sovereign citizen movement, a group that rejects government laws and regulations, Salt expressed concern over the increasing hostility faced by council members and staff.
“This is happening on many levels. Social media, e-mail, face-to-face contact at customer service counters, in council meetings and community board meetings, in public information sessions organized by council staff, on the streets and supermarkets,” he said.
Following the public disclosure of the email chain, which was initially revealed on social media by Salt’s political rivals, the mayor insisted that the majority of responses supported his candor.
He claims to have received support from other mayors, elected members, residents, and ratepayers across the country.
“I have had an overwhelmingly positive response, including from many mayors and elected members, past and present, as well as residents and ratepayers from across the country,” he told AAP.
Salt is the mayor of the Thames-Coromandel District in New Zealand’s North Island. nazar_ab
“The real issue is not a mayor dropping the F-bomb, but the amount of intrusion inflicted by council staff and elected members on a daily basis.
“So let’s turn the discussion to how we can counter that behavior and build stronger, better, more tolerant and more cooperative communities.
“I’ll promise to stop swearing if we can all do it.”
He added that local governments in New Zealand had recently had to take various security measures, such as calling the police or giving councilors panic alarms.
“I was surprised to see places like the local (conservation) office have bulletproof glass put in,” Salt said.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
