Letters to the Editor
My name is Lion Larkin Smith. I’ve been a member of the San Marcos Lions Club for 27 years. I’m also a Past District Governor in Texas.
There are over 1.4 million Lions serving in 750 Districts in 210 countries. In 2012, Lions Clubs International was recognized by the United Nations as the largest and greatest service organization in our global world as the number one non-governmental humanitarian organization in the world.
Two books have been published, one by Past International President, Lion Julien C Hyer and the other by Past International President, Lion Everett J,”Ebb” Grindstaff outlining 100 years of the history of Lionism in Texas from 1917 until 2017.
At no time will you find listed in these books, a record of any city organization requesting private information as to who a Lions Club serves, the amount of money they donate or try to govern how they operate. Lions Clubs International is a private, non-governmental organization.
On page 186 of the book by Lion Grindstaff, you’ll find an article about the San Marcos Lions Club’s Tube Rental. The article states that the Tube Rental began in the 70s and has become the single largest fundraiser project on the San Marcos Lions Club.
Thousands of copies of this book are in the hands of Lions around the world.
As I travel throughout Texas and around the world, Lions ask me about this fundraiser. They know that I’m a member of this club. I often have an opportunity of sharing with them the tremendous positive working relationship we have had with the San Marcos City Council, it’s various departments and many other organizations in the area. I share that history and the thousands of opportunities of service to others with the proceeds from this fundraiser over the years. This club has a rich history of honorable service to the community of San Marcos.
On Nov. 12, 2021, the San Marcos Lions Club will celebrate their 80th Anniversary as a Lions Club in Texas. As stated before, Tube Rental Operations began in the 70s. For over 40 years, this fundraiser has provided funding to support thousands of needs in the San Marcos community. From what I’ve learned, much of the budget of the San Marcos Lions Club is donated to the San Marcos City Services and to many San Marcos River Conservation efforts.
This club has altered, in a positive manner, the lives of many, many people, supporting humanitarian and disaster relief efforts both in San Marcos and along the Texas Gulf Coast.
The Lions Clubs International Constitution and By Laws state that 100% of all proceeds from club fundraisers are to be donated back to the communities where they serve.
Lions Clubs are private organizations. A Lion’s membership is not limited to race, sex, religion, creed, ethnicity, political affiliation or any form of exclusion. We only ask that members commit to serving the needs of those less fortunate. Our motto is “We Serve”.
It is my sincere request that the San Marcos Lions Club continue to operate the Tube Rental Operations under the same respectful and cooperative association it has for the past 40 years.
Larkin Smith
Past District Governor
MD2-S3, 2019-20
Lions Clubs International
Editor,
I want to express support for the renewal of the lease for the Lions Club Tube Rental facility as it stands. The San Marcos Lions Club has been a wonderful partner for Hays Caldwell Women’s Center. Our records indicate that they have given $125,100 in the last 20 years to HCWC to support services for victims of family violence, sexual assault, dating violence and child abuse. They gave us $45,000 which we used primarily for the planning of our new transitional housing project. Construction is now underway on this facility which will provide 18 units of affordable housing for women and young children. Annually, they donate to support our 24-hour services, shelter for victims of abuse and children’s advocacy center.
The tube rental is such a wonderful addition to the community. It is well-managed and provides a great way for people to enjoy our beautiful river and support the community at the same time. We sincerely hope that you will renew their lease so they can continue to benefit the community with this valuable resource. We really depend on their support!
Marla Johnson
Hays-Caldwell Women's Center
San Marcos
Editor,
I am appalled by the Ethics Board meeting held on 2/11/2021. For the record I do not know Jordan Buckley personally or professionally. Our reason for watching this meeting was because my husband had a run in with Park Ranger Loy Locke last July which was swept under the rug! Mr. Locke’s supervisor didn’t even record my husband’s complaint to the official record.
From the beginning of the hearing Mr. Buckley was treated with hostility from at least two Ethics board members who were clearly miffed by anything he said or tried to present. Mr. Buckley tried to let the committee know the relevance of his witnesses which led to HIS mindset the night of the original meeting and the committee deemed that information not relevant . I would also mention here that Mr. Buckley was chastised by the committee because he continued to acknowledge the existence of the three complaints against Locke in question even after being told they were deemed “unfounded “ by Locke’s supervisor.
In some other recent events which include Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Martin Gugino.... their cases were also deemed “unfounded” by their departments. Yet watching the videos of these events they clearly shows the officers involved did in fact commit bodily harm including murder.
Mr. Buckley is an advocate for minorities within our community and has a background in journalism. Why would he or anyone else accept the “unfounded “ ruling on these complaints at face value from an internal department investigation? That's why he requested bodycam footage, which the city refused to grant.
The next thing which caused much confusion was the “open records” submitted by Mr. Locke didn’t match the “open records” submitted by Mr. Buckley. Mr. Locke and his superiors jumped to the conclusion that Mr. Buckley must be lying about the records he received because his summary of the complaint mentioned at last year's meeting was in their words “verbatim.” A side-by-side comparison was created and only then did everyone realize the records were in fact different, and that Mr. Buckley was indeed correct. At no point did the Ethics chairman stop the sidebar dialogue between Mr. Locke and his witness who concluded Mr. Buckley must be lying!
Lastly why did the office of General Counsel not provide the Ethics Commission the documents given to Mr. Buckley, which ended up crucial in their determination? Was it an intentional oversight ?
Anyone who has been in San Marcos for any length of time has stories or know of people who have had run-ins with Park Rangers. Why does the City of San Marcos keep sweeping these under the rug as isolated incidents?
The City of San Marcos needs to do a better job with transparency and create processes and protocols across the board on how complaints are filed and deemed founded or unfounded. If we are to trust our Park Rangers , Marshal, and Law Enforcement to be ethical then transparency must be a priority!
Kindest regards,
Mary Ann Pope
San Marcos
Dear Editor,
I write to express my dismay after watching the charade demonstrated by the city’s Ethics Commission through the recent ethics hearing, and I am disgusted by this mockery of the valid and legitimate concern that there is “uneven enforcement in the parks due to racial bias.”
Not only have I personally witnessed the environmental disregard and the targeting and harassment of minorities in our parks perpetrated by our rangers, but I, too, have endured ugly aggression toward myself and my children from these rangers. Truly, I avoid certain parts of the parks that have become virtually militarized in recent years. I instruct my children to avoid these areas as well so that we can protect ourselves *from* law enforcement.
On one occasion, I was appalled when I witnessed a park ranger — the very ranger claiming victimhood in this week’s ethics hearing — harassing hispanic folks specifically by walking up and kicking over their beers, some of them spilling onto their belongings. Many people in the park were audibly upset by this spectacle, yet somehow, I became emboldened with courage upon seeing his unethical behavior. I marched down to the scene, loudly calling him out by name and shouting “What you are doing is wrong, and you know it!”
Shockingly, he turned and walked back up the hill, away from the river and the people he was abusing, and he didn’t say another word. Folks approached and asked how I was able to make him stop, and we agreed that it was my white privilege that certainly played a role. I reported this incident verbally to Chief Williams at the time, and he sighed with an eyeroll and said, “I’ll talk to him.”
My understanding is that it is the strength of the SM-POA union that insulates this former police officer, demoted to ranger, from being fired or dismissed. His manipulation of the system this week to claim that he was somehow violated for being called out for his legacy behaviors and racial inequity he perpetuates in the parks was abhorrent for me to watch.
I believe that an independent, outside investigation should take place for our entire local law enforcement structure. San Marcos has well-known bad actors, and now, through this week’s playacting of “justice,” it has proven that our city’s internal mechanisms are purely designed to embolden this behavior while further silencing the true victims of these unethical biases.
Kelly Stone Recipient of an SMPD Distinguished Service Award
San Marcos
