When 'fake news' comes from the source

By Allen Edmonds

allen@northcassherald.com

Many of us have complained the past few years about having lost the ability to distinguish news from propaganda in today’s marketplace of ideas.

That “marketplace” includes the news media, social media and the old standby, street talk. A lot of this applies mainly to Washington – what we hear from Congress and the President, and gets transmitted through media and pundits with various viewpoints.

But today, I woke up to this post, pictured below, on Facebook. That’s when I realized with dismay that 2020’s style gaslighting has reached our own Main Street, and in the most blatant form possible.

Ward 3 Councilmember Chris Richardson asks you to believe that “Changes to Belton Parades Starting in 2026” mean that “The City of Belton will be charging community organizations $1,000-$1,500 to host parades, citing police staffing costs and overtime hours.”

He goes on to say that “this means organizers will pay the cost or participants will pay the cost,” before asking the public for its reactions, if it will “pay to participate in a parade,” and “do you think this change will impact local traditions in Belton?”

Now, understand, Richardson was at Monday night’s meeting where parade costs were discussed in a post-business work session. I know that because he did make one – just one – remark about the impact such a fee could have on the fairly new Christmas Parade of Lights, this year scheduled for Nov. 29. Beyond that, he said nothing.

Nor did he have cause to. Because, in fact, what he claims in his Facebook post to have happened, never happened. It’s why it was important to note that he was actually there.

Yes, Police Chief Scott absolutely did report to the Council the results of his study into the costs of providing organizational assistance and security for community parades, as asked. And yes, that number was his determination.

But you can view video of the meeting (this discussion takes place in the final hour), and like me, you’ll find that no “policy” to pass those costs on to parade organizers or participants was suggested, written into a motion or ordinance, or passed.

The question is, was this an honest “mistake” on Richardson’s part? If so, it’s a stunning lack of awareness of how government works from a second-term councilman elected to make decisions on your behalf.

If not – if he knew what he was posting was false, then why? To stir up anger at fellow councilmembers and the mayor? Is it because he’s had recent decisions go against him and his business?

He’s been asked not to communicate directly with city staff because some staffers have felt pressured by communications from him – an intent he denies.

He also had benefits under the city’s Old Towne Redevelopment tax abatement program denied because it was deemed he had begun roofing work on one of the Main Street buildings he owned before his application was approved – a clear violation of program rules.

Even more surprising were the number of informed citizens – a planning commission member, a former planning commission chair, a former councilmember, a local financial institution president – that took him at his word and commented on the “decision” as if it were true.

What really happened?

The council received the results of the study it had requested in an attempt to better understand the best use of taxpayer funds going forward.

Is some kind of additional fee possible in the future after considerably more study and analysis is done? Of course. The school district, for example, has already agreed to pay the city going forward of its Homecoming parades.

But is the same going to be expected from the organizers for the St. Patrick’s Day parade? The Light Parade at Christmas? The Veterans Day Parade?

Nothing in Monday’s discussion indicated that. In fact, the clear opposite. As City Manager Joe Warren suggested, non-profit community events like that could very well be designated as “community sponsored.”

Or, as was discussed, some type of participants in community parades could well be asked to “pony up” a nominal amount to assist with city expenses.

I, for one, have always sneered at the idea that politicians running for office get a free platform to march in these parades with their teams of supporters (many times without the politician him or herself) distributing literature that either gets discarded directly into a Main Street trash receptacle, or thrown on the ground to be cleaned up by the city employees we’re paying through taxes.

It’s why you never see politican parade photos in the paper unless they’re a sitting officeholder. They can pay for that exposure.

The same goes for for-profit businesses. Of course “John Doe’s Appliance Repair” can cough up $50 to expose their name, logo and goodwill to the people of Belton. That’s the cheapest exposure they’ll find, even though we at the North Cass Herald haven’t raised our rates since 2012. We definitely can't beat free.

The point is, something along these lines may be proposed and voted on at some point.

But there is no “new parade policy for 2026.” Even though that’s what you’re being told. By a sitting councilmember.