Editor’s note

Even after police chief Rob Williams and corporation counsel Mark Cullen have stepped down, the scandal known as shredgate continues to leave a bad taste. That’s because Mayor Mike Houston has been largely missing in action, leaving too many questions unanswered – his spokesman said Monday that he was on a weeklong canoe trip. Nelson Mandela said this about leadership: “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” Mayor Houston needs to get out front and start paddling, for he is surely up a creek. –Fletcher Farrar, editor and publisher