Partly so the citizens of Grand Junction and Mesa County don’t have to “regret” Jason Nguyen fulfilling a full term of him ramming his personal agenda down our throats. But more importantly, Councilman Jason wants to be able to do his dirty work as Just Jason in the shadows.

Because Councilman Jason is now doing the typical, politician thing with his “apology” tour in the “daily” paper, via email and online. And Councilman Jason’s barnstorming is taken right from the Tina Peters School of “Sure I did it, but I’m untouchable because I was elected” role of I’m more important than the people or my job.

But Just Jason piles on with no remorse, using “regret” (in how he got caught) while not realizing he obliterated the public’s trust in anything he’s done, is doing or will do as Councilman Jason.

It’s like we have our own Batman villain in River City. I guess we citizens now flip a coin as to which Jason we’re getting.

Once again, in his own words, we see how out of touch another direct ditty from Just Jason is on a thread from Facebook discussing The Business Times’ op-ed on his calling for a boycott on businesses (citizens) which oppose his Commuting Manifesto:

“Hi all–Just wanted to talk about my comments being referenced here. While this comment was made I was functioning as a private citizen in a private group, it unfortunately also furthers an “us vs. them” mentality which cheapens the discourse. We all want the same thing – a thriving, vibrant downtown. We may have disagreement about how we get there, but I know we get further when we work collaboratively. I regret my comment as it didn’t help further that collaborative vision or the discourse, and I will do better in the future. I am truly sorry. — Jason”

Well, there you have it. Just Jason didn’t mean what he said. After all, regular people like Just Jason call for boycotts in private Facebook groups (with more than 900 members) every day against folks who disagree with them. The elected Jason who sits on City Council would never do that. Odd how he thinks saying things privately doesn’t remove meaning from what he says publicly.

To begin, Councilman Jason, you forfeited the right to speak privately, or as Just Jason, on anything City of Grand Junction-related the moment you got elected. But I would bet you’ve spoken under the authority of being an elected City Council member on myriad occasions. As much as you wish him to, Just Jason in those instances doesn’t exist.

Next, a current Daily Sentinel poll shows more than 90 percent of the people say they are against the Fourth and Fifth Street experiment. A good percentage of those folks also said they wanted more engagement before the City Council makes these kinds of decisions.

Not seeing this “collaboration” you speak of. And please note, the word “us” is very important in Just Jason’s “us vs. them” reference as a couple of “us” (or is it “them”?) still sit on City Council.

Finally, is Just Jason saying he really, really – like really – means what he says as a member of City Council, but he doesn’t mean what he says when acting as a private citizen? Any clear-thinking individual who understands politics and politicians knows the opposite is true. That’s why politicians have “private,” Joe Biden-like moments. It’s where THE truth comes out.

But none of that is stopping Just Jason from going on some Vlog called “Better Together” or having his so-called “private group” members write and call me petty and vengeful about a guy who’s a member of a secret society which thrives on, apparently, being petty and vengeful.

Normally, I wouldn’t give anyone who doesn’t understand the difference between an op-ed and column the time of day, especially one claiming to be an educator. But I don’t have to listen to the podcast with “jolly ol’ Saint Nick” to understand it’s another opportunity for Just Jason to repeat what The Daily Sentinel printed above the fold for his apology tour. I mean, after this is Just Jason going to say what he really means ever again?

As for the emails from Just Jason’s secret society, please note in this column I have given Just Jason a title as requested. I say this as a business which I am sure heads your boycott list. But I’d be remiss to not post this quote from one of your diatribes:

“I would ask downtown businesses to carefully consider the accuracy and sincerity of their public speech whenever an issue like this comes up again. The scapegoating of a minor street project in downtown Grand Junction brought forth an amazing opposition that I think was contrived and exaggerated by political opportunists such as Cody Kennedy and Ben Van Dyke.”

Sounds like an out-of-touch threat to me. Just Jason, this proves your words were indeed “us vs. them.” And we now know about 900 more of “them” (or is it “us”?) are against “us.”

My friend, District 51 School Board President Andrea Haitz, wrote a thoughtful, measured letter to the “daily,” requesting Just Jason be censured by the City Council. I couldn’t agree more with this action – if the censure comes right before a vote to remove him.

Make him Just Jason. The role he apparently relishes more.

In Christ and Freedom.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at  424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com