The mayor speaks on behalf of his city

In front of Zachary Hammond’s parents, Mayor Dan Alexander gave Seneca’s first public comment on the July 26 fatal shooting.  Zachary Hammond’s mother, Angie, pleaded for something other than a release from the city’s public relations firm.  And what she and her husband, Paul, and other sympathizers received last night at City Hall were Alexander’s comments in which the mayor said his city empathized with the Hammonds and gave condolences for the loss of their son.  “No family, no city, no employee, no person, anywhere wants to experience such a tragic event.  It affects everyone in our city…., the mayor said.  Moments later, outside the council chambers, the father, Paul Hammond, said he felt what the mayor said should have been said earlier, such as the day after his son was shot dead.  In her comments in front of the mayor and council, Mrs. Hammond appealed for the city to push for the release of both audio and visual recordings of what happened in the parking lot of the Hardee’s Restaurant.