Speak Out

The following letter was sent to Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Keith Banks with a copy sent to Letters from CAMP Rehoboth.

This letter is in reference to the violent attack against several gay men in Rehoboth Beach on Saturday August 7. As a regular visitor to Rehoboth I am outraged at your weak response to this incident. I understand from an article in the Washington Blade that you are not classifying this incident as a hate crime. There are only two reasons I could imagine for this non-classification, you don’t want the bad press or because the victims didn’t "act gay" and defended themselves, it couldn’t be a hate crime (even though the incident started with Mr. Didomenicis screaming "faggot"). What will have to happen to our community for you to consider the incident a hate crime, a bomb thrown into a gay bar? I have given up waiting for your protection.

It is impossible to count the number of times while walking down Rehoboth Avenue I have been called "faggot" from a speeding car. Ironically there is never a policeman around, nor is one around when the bars close. I guess they are too busy patrolling the boardwalk making sure no one has illicit sex on the deserted beach.

As a community, we don’t need a neon sign to tell us we are unwelcome; your lack of assistance is more than enough to communicate that. From now on, I plan to spend my vacation dollars where I am welcomed and protected.

Mike Anderson


To the Citizens of Rehoboth Beach

In last Saturday’s election, 807 of you voted in our municipal election, representing more than 75 percent of the registered voters in our city. I thank you for your involvement in our democracy. This is what makes this city (and our country) so envied. You are truly the soul and spirit of Rehoboth Beach.

Please allow me to extend my deepest thanks to those of you who voted for me. Your confidence in me is both humbling and exhilarating. By taking the oath of office, I have publicly acknowledged "that the powers of this office flow from the people I am privileged to represent," and to "always place the public interest above any special or personal interests." You have my pledge that together, we will preserve the character of Rehoboth Beach for future generations, and that we will manage the inevitable changes before they manage us.

I hope to speak with many of you in person over the next three years—both to discuss the challenges we need to address, and to hear your opinion of what we, your Commissioners, are accomplishing.

To my colleagues and fellow candidates, I would like to thank you for a positive, substantive and enjoyable campaign. If every political race in the nation were like this one, we’d all be better off. I look forward to Tjark’s continued contribution to the city as a Planning Commissioner and to serving with Richard on the City Commission.

Again, to all the citizens of Rehoboth Beach, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the city and for your support as I undertake this important work.

Patrick Gossett
Commissioner
City of Rehoboth Beach

As the season winds down, I want to take the time to thank all of you at CAMP Rehoboth for introducing me to Rehoboth and helping to make my summer a memorable one.

When I decided to spend my vacation in Rehoboth Beach, I wasn’t sure I would fit in. Was I ever wrong! This has been a great time for me to make a lot of new friends, and I am sure many of them will become long time friends.

Again, thanks for making Rehoboth such a great town.