Posted on Monday, 6/22/2009 - 6:21 p.m. PDT — by P5Ret
The report is finished, aren't we glad the City Council in all of their "wisdom" named a park after him and family. The probable cause of the accident basically says pilot error and that he used poor judgement. This was tragic for the family, but our city council acted out of haste in a effort to honor someone.
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=LAX08FA203&rpt=fa
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=LAX08FA203&rpt=fi
Joined: Sep 2006
Current Posts: 4928
I guess for some people that conclusion might make a difference in how they feel about it, but to me, it was still a tragic accident. It wasn't intentional, and inexperience may have played a role, as it probably did when JFK Jr's plane went down. I'm thinking they probably honored him with the naming of the park, more because of who he was, instead of how he died. At least it makes sense that way, because lots of people die tragically after using bad judgement, but not all of them are notable public servants worthy of having a park named after them. I'm sure there will be varying opinions about that, but as with most politicians, there is a lot of varying opinions about them and it kind of goes with the territory.
Only 477 Remaining Until Bazooka Joe's Last Post!
Joined: Oct 2007
Current Posts: 687
BJ I respect you thoughts and ideas, but my question still remains what did Mr. Nunn do besides serve on the planning commision, and run for supervisor. I am not trying to take away any part of this tragic event. I just don't feel that he did all that much to warrant naming a park after him is all, and the city council should not have jumped on the band wagon to do this. There are plenty of people who did more to put Oakley on the map so to speak who have never even had a plaque on a park bench let alone an entire park named for them.
Joined: Apr 2009
Current Posts: 4
I think that it was ment for the children. Two sets of kids who grew up in that neighborhood were honored. I think that was the true intention. Just like people put up roadside crosses, the kids don't have that option. It was a nice gesture, plus the Nunn family has strong ties to this area.
Joined: Oct 2007
Current Posts: 687
You are probably thinking of the Nunn's from Brentwood and they are not related.
Joined: May 2006
Current Posts: 166
No offense P5 but although you are correct the two Nunn families are not related, both have strong ties to the area.
Joined: Apr 2008
Current Posts: 3
What business do parents of young children have piloting off to another state when they don't have the experience required? There is always a chance for what happened, to take place? I feel sorry for the children, but the arrogance to do something like this shows less than stellar judgment. Providing for your children, by being present in their lives should always take precedence over hobbies and overzealous egos.
As for Mr. Nunn deserving any praise or recognition... he is NOT related to the Brentwood Nunn family, AND furthermore his ties are no deeper than any other longstanding East County family. MANY MANY MANY other locals have done FAR more for the communities than Eric Nunn, and have had far less praise or notoriety. The City of Oakley was arrogant to go naming a neighborhood park for them so hastily, and the fact remains that Eric Nunn had some hateful bigotry in his background, for which he would NOT have been elected, and for which he does not represent any family values that I would want my children to follow.
Let me remind you of this story, that was reported in the local media and can be found in county records:
Nunn was a security guard for county buildings until he was fired in 1994. Documents show that he threw water balloons at a homosexual co-worker and attached a sign to the colleague’s car that read, “I’m short with a fuzzy mustache and I’m gay; honk if you think I’m sexy.”
Great values...
Joined: May 2006
Current Posts: 166
You may choose to remember Mr. Nunn in the way he was portrayed in the media by his opponents during a hotly contested County Supervisor election run (one that by all polling data he was WINNING at the time of his death I might add), but the majority of people will hopefully remember him as the loving husband and father that he was at the time of his death and not as others so freely labeled him after his tragic mistake. I didn't know Mr. Nunn and I never met the man but he was, by all accounts, someone that was doing what he could to make his community better in more ways that most people do as we all know MOST do NOTHING. Sure, "P5Retired" is absolutely correct that there are plenty that have done more than Mr. Nunn did in his relatively short time for the community, but many of those he is referring to are still around to continue their work while Mr. Nunn is, unfortunately, not.
I wonder what dark things about you, jpbritto, would come out for all of the public to see and comment on should you have the guts to run for public office. I highly doubt you have zero skeletons in your closet. I don't know many, myself included, that DON'T. Perhaps there's at least one thing you've done in your past that you might regret OR would, taken out of context or not portrayed accurately, look horrible if put up to public scrutiny by your opponent's supporters. Mr. Nunn at least had the guts to face the fire of public scrutiny. I don't know many of us that would nowadays.
I could care less that a park was named for him. What does it really matter? In the end analysis, it's just a freaking rinky dink park for goodness sakes! How about those that are so upset about the naming of the park use that same level of disgust to rail at the City of Oakley for not having MORE parks in the first place?
Joined: Oct 2007
Current Posts: 687
If all it takes to be honored with a park named after you is living in a community then why not a park named for anyone else? We all know the answer to that one. Nearly every other park in town is named for a teacher, I'll let you guess who on the city council pushed that agenda. In all honesty I really don't care, but my question is simply this what had he or they done for the community? Having strong ties as you put is not a justification for getting a park named after you is it? He served on the planing commision an appointed postion. Yeah he may very well have been the next supervisor, but does that justify the council spening money Oakley really doesn't have to take out a concrete sign for a park and have a new one made. My issue is not with either Nunn or Wilson my issue is with the city council giving in to a group of people that more or less demanded something be done to honor these people. I just feel that if something was to be done the council should have waited until all of the facts were in, since this park is one of the largest parks in the city. This is nothing more than a tragic accident, it was not as best anyone can tell a mechinical failure, and was nothing more than a bad decision, and inexperience, but if it had been something else like him "hot doging" and showing off would we feel the same about this? This was a decision made in haste by the council that will last longer than you or I will, I am simply saying that all of the facts of the incident should have been weighed before this decision was made, there was no need to rush into it. And before you ask yes I have considered running for office I simply do not have the money to throw away, trying to get elected, I didn't get a 6 figure PERS retirement or paid medical, when I was forced to retire.
Joined: May 2006
Current Posts: 166
It doesn't sound like we disagree with each other on this. I can see all your points and understand your frustration.
Joined: Apr 2008
Current Posts: 3
Just so you know no body demanded the parked be named after Nunn - Wilson. It was a suggestion and one most neighbors who children knew the Nunn and Wilson Children agree with.
I live in the Laurel Crest Neighborhood, the same neighborhood where these families lived. Our kids in this neighborhood attended school and played with both the Nunn and Wilson children. This tragedy happended at a the same time this park was being built. Our kids play at this park and will always remember the tradgedy the Nunn Wilson kids are now living with.
After living in the Laurel Crest neighborhood for about 9 years now and being told by the builder, Western Pacific Housing that this was supposed to be a park, I think this is the best name for our neighborhood park.
We will always remember their children and how much their lives have changed. This park is for the Nunn Wilson children and the bravery they now face as children living without their mom and dad. Our children were so sad when this happened and knowing that we have a park to remember their friends tradgedy has helped all our children cope too. Notice is it Nunn - Wilson "Family Park" and not named to honor Eric and his ties to the city...
Joined: Sep 2005
Current Posts: 34
I think the sad thing is that there are children in our community, who lose parents and/or are orphaned quite often. The Nunn/Wilson children at least have loving extended families to be there for them, a majority of the children who lose parents go either into foster care or with family members whom they hardly know. Also, financially the Nunn/Wilson children will never likely struggle, unlike most kids in our community who lose their parent(s) and end up depending on the government to make ends meet. My question is, what do you do for the other 20 or so children in east Contra Costa County, that lost a parent or were orphaned in the last 18 months? I could not believe all of the fund raisers held for these two families. During around the time of one of the many fundraisers a single mother lost her life in a car wreck in Brentwood. How many fundraisers did you hold for her son? What park did you choose to name after him?