Point Beach Council Candidates: Boardwalk Businesses Should Help Pay for Cops
But disagreement on how to get them to do that
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Boardwalk businesses should help pay for summer police protection, according to Point Beach Borough Council candidates at Tuesday night's debate at G. Harold Antrim Elementary School.
However, there was disagreement about how the town should go about collecting those fees and no specific amounts suggested.
Six of the seven candidates running for two, three-year council seats were at the debate. They were: Democrat Nick Mazzola, Republicans Andy Cortes and William Mayer, Independent candidates Bret Gordon and Phyllis Thomson, who are running as a slate, and Kitty Stillufsen, who is running as an Independent separately from Gordon and Thomson.
Democrat Frank Rizzo, the only incumbent running for re-election was absent.
The salary for a council member is $4,500 per year, said Gail Saxer of the League of Women Voters, a Berkeley resident who moderated the debate. The Woman's Club, on St. Louis Avenue, which hosted the forum, asked the League to moderate, said Ann Kessler, Woman's Club president.
Regarding "special event fees" to help support police operations, Republican candidates said the council needs to work that out with boardwalk business owners.
"We should talk to the boardwalk businesses and reach a happy medium," Cortes said.
Independent candidate Stillufsen said the town can use the leverage of the liquor licenses to require businesses to help pay for police protection.
"Every year, on June 30, the liquor licenses are up for renewal and the council has the right to renew or restrict," she said. "We can say to the boardwalk businesses, 'Hey, we can revoke your license or we might restrict it. We want more security.' "
"There are towns where police are paid as a condition of a liquor license," said Republican Mayer, who is currently the town's bond counsel. "Bullying the boardwalk businesses is a mistake. We need to request cooperation from them."
Mayer also said during another part of the forum: "I want to see the boardwalk help pay for police, but I wasn't a big fan of special event fees for the Easter Egg hunt and fireworks, because that attracts families and that's what we want."
"No one wants to offend boardwalk businesses, but costs have to be shared by all the businesses in town," said Democrat Mazzola, who is running on a slate with mayoral candidate Tim Lurie.
Gordon, like Cortes, said he thinks the ordinance governing "special event fees" should be revised.
"We need to redefine 'special events,' and then enforce that and all other ordinances," he said.
After the debate, when asked what he would do if "a happy medium" could not be reached with boardwalk businesses, Cortes said, "Then you turn down their special event applications."
When asked if he knew that Jenkinsons' has not paid any special event fees in recent years, Cortes said, "That's wrong." But he also said the ordinance must be revised, possibly with different fees for nonprofits and for-profit corporations, as well as possibly imposing different fees for events that occur once a year and those that are re-occurring.
Earlier on Tuesday, Municipal Clerk Maryann Ellsworth said she has billed Jenkinson's $28,202.75 for their Music Fest, fireworks and Big Joe Henry shows during the summer.
"These are the events that require additional police services," she wrote in an email, adding that as of late Tuesday afternoon, she had not received any of those payments.
Thomson said, "What 'special events' means to me are events that are not an everyday occurrence. Special event fees should be paid by everyone, not only certain groups."
After the forum ended, when asked about additional police costs, Chief Kevin O'Hara said he had asked the council during the summer for $155,000 in additional funding for the police department to help handle what the department described as the worst summer for crime in the past 17 years.
In the summer, the council appropriated $95,000 of the $155,000 requested, mostly for overtime for police officers. And in September, council allocated the remaining $60,000 requested to hire and train up to 50 more special police officers for next summer, O'Hara said.
The $155,000 will come out of next year's municipal budget, since it was not available in this year's budget.
Regarding next year's budget, Gordon said it's critical the council find ways to develop a municipal budget without having to furlough employees. This year, employees had 17 unpaid days.
"That's not only money out of their pockets, it's money out of your pockets," he said to the audience of about 50 people, "because you're paying for services you're not getting on those days.
"Sustaining the town on the backs of employees" is not the way to run a town, Gordon said.
To help generate more revenue for the budget, Gordon said he favors local option taxes, which would be taxes paid on things like alcohol sold at local bars or parking fees paid in private lots.
Mazzola said he is against local option taxes "because they could apply to a beer or a haircut or anything," he said, adding people already pay enough taxes.
Mayer said, "Local option taxes are a good idea, but they won't be in place for the 2012 budget."
The state Legislature and governor would have to approve enabling legislation for local options taxes before Point Beach can impose them.
Such local options taxes are already allowed in at least a few municipalities in New Jersey, including Newark where the city reaps revenue from parking lot fees.
Mayor Vincent Barrella has often said it's unfair that state law allows Newark to reap that local option tax revenue, but that it does not allow Point Beach and many other towns to do the same.
He has been trying to generate legislators' interest in changing that, but there is no bill successfully progressing at this point.
Candidates said they would look for ways to cut spending and increase revenue.
Mayer said he wants to examine how much is being generated in municipal court and parking revenue to see how that can help stabilize the budget.
Gordon said as employees retire, their positions should be evaluated to see if they need to be filled by a full-time employee, a part-timer, or if they should be left vacant. He also said cross-training of employees may result in the town being able to leave some positions vacant.
However, when asked about possibly hiring more full-time police officers he said he wouldn't rule out the possibility, if that's what was recommended by the police chief.
Most of the other candidates said they favor hiring more part-time special police officers, but not full-time cops.
Candidates liked an idea suggested by Ben Dispoto to cut trash collection to once a week, and recycling only on alternate weeks, during the off-season.
A candidates forum for the three mayoral candidates will be held at 7 p.m. at Antrim. The candidates are: Barrella, running as an Independent for re-election, Lurie, currently Democratic council president, and Republican Stephen Reid.
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G. Harold Antrim Elementary School
401 Niblick St, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Bev Fantini
7:02 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I agree with Ben Dispoto. Alot of the houses are vacant as they are second homes for many people, and therefore they are not generating trash or recycle material. Terrific idea that will not really impact residents and could save alot of money that can be used for additional police officers during the summer.
Beach_N8iv
10:50 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
On the surface it seems like a good idea but how will it impact the rest of the town? Residents with families won't generate less trash and the town has limits on how much we're allowed to put out for collection. Recycling on alternate weeks? How about no? Does no work for you? Thinking about it, it's a TERRIBLE idea.
Toni Nase
10:59 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
How about apt. complexes in town, yes they do exist. Units are generally not empty on the off season. Trash and recycling are generated at the same rate all year around, and often higher with holidays. Proposed collection schedules could result in health problems.
pointman
11:55 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Beach n8 have to agree,the people that keep bringing up once a week garbage, are in most cases seniors or households of 1 or 2. Anyone with a family of 4 or more needs the 2 day pickup. And what will it really save ? a little gas money. You pay by the ton at the landfill,so picking up 30 pds of garbage twice a week or 60 pds once a week where is the savings? there is none.
Beach_N8iv
7:08 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
William Mayer: "Bullying the boardwalk businesses is a mistake. We need to request cooperation from them."
Because THAT'S worked so well in the past.
"Mazzola said he is against local option taxes "because they could apply to a beer or a haircut or anything," he said, adding people already pay enough taxes."
Don't worry, nobody will tax your rose colored glasses. A few cents on certain items (like alcoholic beverages which cause MOST of the problems) won't bankrupt anyone.
Beach_N8iv
8:57 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
If you feel that the town can afford to waste more time (and money) by talking to people who have historically resisted even filing applications then, I guess, Mayer is your man. I see no reason NOT to pressure the state to allow small local option taxes that MOST people won't even notice.
blindbert
10:51 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
Tax on bar drinks is not bad, What the Hell, most people can not even figure the tip.
A people pay cover all the time
Charles Clark
9:18 pm on Saturday, October 29, 2011
@Hilde, Isn't that nice, the good wife defending her husband!
David Cavagnaro
9:32 am on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
It was an informative debate that gave some good insights into the candidate’s positions. It’s unfortunate that more residents didn’t come for first hand information. All the candidates did a good job. A few gave more informed and detailed answers to questions than others. Hopefully more people will attend this Thursday for the Mayoral debate..
It’s good that all candidates finally agree that the Boardwalk should be paying more for the extra services that they require. As Bill Mayer commented, if the Boardwalk is going to cater to the Jersey Shore crowd then they need to kick in money.
Darlene Motto
12:38 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
In my opinion, I feel all the running candidates for the Point Beach Council did a fine job giving their own views on what the town of Point Beach needs. They all had their own views on issues, some were in agreement on many issues just different ways on how to handling or tackling the issues. Not that one way or another is wrong, just different. I like the fact they all appeared to be able to work together and seemed to be open minded and willing to listen to the residents and then decide what is best. There is many rules, regulations, union contracts, ordinances,laws, mandates that the general public does not always understand. Therefore, sometimes what a resident might suggest is not always possible because of the complication of different laws. We need a council who is willing to explain these complication without spinning or blaming. I like that many of the candidates are willing to look at all sides of the budget, both revenue and spending. To take the time to look at everything line by line. I think most of these candidates realize point beach needs a council who is willing to make tough decisions and can no longer afford a council to be tied to any special interest groups. They all had strong points and they all have impressive abilities,work ethics of both past and present life experiences that have worked with budgets in one time or another in their many public service or job experiences. I predict a close race, I just wish more showed up to hear it for themselves.
Darlene Motto
1:04 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I forgot, I like the fact that Mr. Gordon was willing to shut individuals down who wanted to start playing politics by blaming our Mayor for issues that he really had no control of. As everyone knows and lets face the fact. The council is the ones who has the power and makes the decisions so they are responsible for all the issues that has been happening in our town. The Mayor can only break a tie when it comes to town issues. He was out numbered on many of the prior decisions, so I don't care who the Mayor was, it would have played out the same way. I also like the fact he complimented Mr. Mayer that he knows what he is talking about when it comes to budgets. I feel they all took the high road and hopefully we can keep it that way. I like a little something about each of the candidate especially if they are willing to do exactly what they said and claimed they would, even if it is difficult decisions that they have to make. I like the fact that both Mr. Gordon and Ms. Thomson said we have to tackle the budget and issues which are going to be cost and effective. I like that he compared it to a ship or boat? It take more than one to make things happen. There is different important jobs that has to done so it does not sink, at least that is what I got out of it. You need to work at it to make it work and the possibilities can be endless. We should not just give in to it or give up and I like his drive. I also think Mr. Mayer had a point that we can't bully anyone either.
johnny knoxville
1:14 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
I disagree with the last persons view. I found the candidates to be completely unimpressive. I seemed they all wanted to please the boardwalk hater crowd. Mr. Gordon absolutely floored me when he said he wanted to hire 2 more full time cops. Is he nuts ? And his running mate seemed like a bobblehead just agreeing with Capt. Spendthrift. I think her name is Thomson. That's how impressed I was. I can see what Gordon said about consolidation that he and the mayor are already starting the lies. Candidate Mayer seems sly beyond his years and knows what to say to please the crowd. That's not a good sign. Cortes seems like a very honest person and is the closest thing to a taxpayer representative. Mazzola didn't say much. The Stillfeeson woman was interesting, maybe she should watch what she says.
"Independent candidate Stillufsen said the town can use the leverage of the liquor licenses to require businesses to help pay for police protection.
"Every year, on June 30, the liquor licenses are up for renewal and the council has the right to renew or restrict," she said. "We can say to the boardwalk businesses, 'Hey, we can revoke your license or we might restrict it. We want more security.'
This last comment is called extortion !
Beach_N8iv
1:29 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Extortion is a pretty strong word! Towns HAVE the right to restrict licensee's operations, otherwise why even have licenses? If a licensed business is causing a chronic problem the town can take action to remedy those problems.
Darlene Motto
3:42 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
@Johnny, you are a real big talker. You are attacking and twisting words by taking many points and views out of context. What exactly is your qualifications? You do a lot of talking and criticizing on these post along with a few other post who cowardly hides behind a fake name. Come forward and tell us who you really are so we can sit you up on stage and you can tell us what you would do and what is you impressive resume? Gordon did not say he would hire two more police. He said, he would if it was his last resort in an extreme situation. It was more a hypothetical what if question. He also stated that we are under the amount of police according to the DCA report? Also that we have 22 police and 23 bars. This is not extortion, it is reality that any town can do this if you have establishments that are having continuos problems. A town has the authority to report what is going on just like anything else that might be happening in their town. It is reality, that the license is due every year on June 30, renewals or restrict is options not extortion. Why should every bar be punished for the ones who are not following the rules or causing the problems. Your name should be Johnny spinner.
blindbert
5:22 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Although I had to work and was not in attendance i have heard the following:
Independents; Gordon and Thomson were in favor of parking restrictions. Kitty was not there to answer.
Republicans; Cortez against it and Mayer skated the issue.
Democrats; Mazzola for restrictions, Rizzo was not in attendance as usual but we know he is anti restriction.
Based on the above I.view that the independents Gordon, Thomson and Democrat Mazzola are most for protecting the residents right to a quality of Life.
I do not think Kitty and Mazzola have a chance so at this time I am leaning towards voting for Gordon and Thomson
Also Vote Yes for the parking referendum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beach_N8iv
5:51 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The only way I would vote YES on the parking referendum is if I were convinced it would be enforced WEST of the tracks.
blindbert
6:30 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
It is enforceable, all you have to do is call the PPBPD
Charles Clark
6:46 pm on Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The problem is in the Peak of the season this town doesn't have enough parking anywhere in the town...... especially with all the new restaurants in town. Not that I am complaining but how far is someone supposed to park? Parking isn't a problem during the off season, the town is not crowded their is plenty of spots. I don't even understand the parking referendum being their was so many plans on the table. What are we voting for? Anyone care to explain it?
blindbert
11:06 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
The parking referendum question is a non binding referendum that is basically an opinion poll that measures the voter sentiment. The plan would then need to be heard and have an ordinance adopted before it can be enacted.
The referendum question is to restrict overnight parking to the taxpayers, their families, renters and guests. If enacted it would reduce the number of patrons that leave the bars after midnite from parking in residential areas. As written the hours of restriction are from midnite to 8AM. All taxpayer are to recieve a number of passes
( 5, i believe) for distribution at their own discretion.
The republican team proposal for free parking is not the one that we vote on. There plan provides for free parking in all metered areas except the lake little silver lot for a specified time. That plan is not very enforcable unless we hire additional to start marking tires to go after the good resident of our town.
If your are in favor of the parking plan than you should vote for the independents, Barella, Gordon and Thomson!
Charles i trust that his should answer your question.
A Resident
11:13 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
blindbert...mind telling us where you are getting the information on what is written in the non binding referendum? Have not seen that anywhere and it would be nice to see.
blindbert
11:20 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
Resident, The hours are in the question. The # of passes was as stated at coucil.
Mike Corbally, care to comment?
A Resident
8:51 am on Thursday, October 20, 2011
Anyone notice that most of the candidates all live in 1 district? In fact...within a couple blocks of each other.....and 2 of the 3 mayor candidates?
What's up with the rest of the town?
Charles Clark
9:26 am on Saturday, October 22, 2011
Because many leave their summer homes on the east side of the tracks in Districts 3 and 4 and the ones who don't obviously does not want to get involved.
Part Timer
9:32 am on Thursday, October 20, 2011
Being that the council has voting power over the mayor it is a shame that only a small crowd was in attendance.
blindbert
11:14 am on Friday, October 21, 2011
I had hoped that Bill Mayer would support the Parking Plan. He is a good man running on the wrong ticket.
The Republican club needs new blood and Reid is not the answer. The town and most of the candiddates are republican. The republican club needs to rid itself of the New Jersey Ave Influence!
If we do not vote for them the County club and their benefactors may call for new marching orders that does not include them!
Darlene Motto
6:17 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011
@Part Timer, I agree and that is what I said on a prior comment. Too bad more did not come out to hear the new candidates who are running for council who truly has the power. We have some residents here that want to put a spin and blame anyone but the council. I don't care who you have in for Mayor, if the council is not effective efficient and willing to do what they need to then ALL the residents will pay for it one way or another.
sandinmytoes
8:26 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011
I was surprised that no one brought up the Tom O'Hara tenure situation with Thomson. That was such a disgrace. It's one thing not to want to give the guy tenure, but then to not have the guts to vote on it publicly and choose to abstain from the vote without any reason? Scares the snot out of me to know what will happen if she gets elected. Can you just see it? She'll abstain from any potentially contentious votes. Add that with Tooker's repeated absences due to her trips to Florida, and we end up with a 4 person Council.
Charles Clark
11:07 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011
You know what they say one someone assumes. There could have been plenty of reasons why she couldn't vote on the Tom O' Hare tenure situation. You should recuse yourself if there is a conflict of interest, something that some of our councilmen should do and don't. I wouldn't talk, Councilmen Rizzo isn't there more than half the time throughout the entire year. He should have never been allowed to seek reelection. I was under the impression that they were not going allowed telecom of the meetings.
sandinmytoes
10:38 pm on Saturday, October 29, 2011
Mr. Clark, I'm am beginning to seriously question just how much you know about the history of PPB. The 3 female BOE members who abstained from the vote on the O'Hara tenure did not have a conflict of interest. In a Letter to the Editor dated 5/4/07, the BOE members stated that they opted to abstain from the vote to "lessen the blow" of voting no. Nonsense. They didn't have the guts to cast the "no" votes. The BOE members admitted that the abstentions caused some real confusion among the members of the public. As one person commented, "If a board member is unwilling to accept their responsibility to vote, they should resign." I agree.
Considering the types of difficult decisions our Council members seem to regularly face, I am truly troubled as to whether Ms. Thomson, if elected, will have the willingness to accept her responsibility to vote on these types of issues. Council members shouldn't abstain from voting just because they feel uncomfortable. You seem to like to talk about conflicts of interest. A legitimate abstention based on conflict of interest is based on law.
Charles Clark
9:59 am on Sunday, October 30, 2011
@sand, First off, I did not bring up the Tom O'Hara tenure situation with Thomson, you did. I did not know to much about Tom O'Hara tenure situation because I did not go. You never know what goes behind the scenes or back room of any organization. Just like the town council. My point was many that get elected seem to abstain from voting or just does not show up. My point was it is not on Mrs. Thomson or Tooker. I have seen Rizzo, Hennessy and Dyer snub meetings a few times. If you are going to shed the light on only some seems just a bit unfair to me. I am troubled to on what has been going on in Point Beach. Many have been playing games and the residents are the ones who are truly getting hurt. I don't know about the laws, you seem to though because that is your profession. Who was the three female BOE members? There could be reasons that you were not privy to. I agree they shouldn't abstain but they all seem to be taking turns doing it.
Joan Vuocolo
1:15 am on Saturday, October 29, 2011
@Charles Clark...sounds like someone didn't do their homework!!!
Charles Clark
9:24 pm on Saturday, October 29, 2011
@Joan, I would agree and I caught many that haven't done their homework as far as I am concerned and half the reason no one knows what is truly going on.
Sean Conneamhe
6:15 am on Saturday, October 29, 2011
Many points of view can be openly discussed and that is what makes Point Pleasant Beach such a great community.
sandinmytoes
11:02 am on Sunday, October 30, 2011
@ Charles Clark, unlike you, I'm trying to focus on the people who are actually up for election this November. This article is about the Council candidates' forum. Ms. Thomson is a Council candidate this November, and I was surprised that no one brought up the Tom O'Hara situation at the forum. I don't have any problem with your focusing on Mr. Rizzo, since he is on the November ballot. Hennessy has missed some meetings recently. His wife had a baby in September, by c-section. Then, she needed emergency surgery for appenticitis. I don't have any problem understanding why Hennessy would need to be at home under such situations. Dyer has only missed one or two meetings. He has abstained from votes where he had a conflict of interest, and everyone agrees, including the Mayor, that he has a conflict of interest on certain issues. As for Ms. Tooker, she regularly chooses to take extended vacations during the year. That's a choice by her. I find it ironic that it wasn't until Rizzo appeared by phone ONCE that Councilman Corbally chose to focus on the appearance by phone situation. I think the Council made the right decision to prohibit appearances by phone, and it was only Councilwoman Tooker who voted against that ordinance. But, again, I think everyone should spend their time examining the people who are actually up for election. As for the BOE abstention situation, I think the Letter to the Editor they submitted speaks for itself.
Charles Clark
11:38 am on Sunday, October 30, 2011
@sand, you must be a lawyer with all your spins. I never brought up the BOE issues, YOU did. So I am having a real hard time following you. Everyone on these post are guilty of bring up past issues including yourself. Now you want to concentrate on current council or BOE members? Out of the entire group I think Hennessy was the least council member that missed meetings and I will agree that his family comes first and that would fall under an excusable absent. So lets stop the spinning. Even though I thought it was dead wrong for Dyer,Hennessy, Rizzo to skip meeting purposely when they snubbed the tax paying residents of this town more than once. Everyone was aware of the games they played and the reason they loss respect from the voters. Personally I feel one lawyer is enough on any council, the residents just can't afford anymore spinning on issues.
sandinmytoes
11:51 am on Sunday, October 30, 2011
Mr. Clark, it's interesting that you think that lawyers are so good at spinning things. Let's remember that Mayor Barrella was an attorney for the IRS for many years. The IRS! We all know how friendly the IRS is to taxpayers. But, I guess you keep missing the point of my posts. This article is about the Council candidates in the November election. Let's just focus on those individuals, okay? If you're trying to suggest that Mayer wouldn't be a good councilman because he's an attorney, I disagree. I think that Mayer has deep roots within this community. He's a bond attorney, which means that he has experience with budgets and numbers, which I think would be a big asset to our town at this time. Unlike you, I don't believe that someone's job defines a person's character. I'm not a lawyer, but I've had a few lawyers help me out of some really tough jams. I've known some nurses and doctors who have pretty lousy bedside manners, even though they've sworn to help people. I wonder what you do for a living.
Charles Clark
2:33 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2011
That is my point there is only room for one lawyer. Two is a crowd. I know what the article is about. It is about council candidates who think the boardwalk should be paying more for police. Now lets see if any of them keep their promises. The way it's been going, most likely not. That is why I questioned you? Why did you bring up the Tom O'Hare tenure that really has nothing to do with the opinion of council candidates views on boardwalk paying for more police. You are the one who mentioned their was 3 on the BOE that did not do their job accordingly. I keep on hearing deep roots with the community. Maybe that is the problem to many have deep roots within the community.
Charles Clark
4:15 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2011
The truth hurts sometimes. I don't need a break from anything. Maybe it's you that needs the break. Really? The ones who are back stabbing each other in the back are the deep rooted residents that know each other so well. They know who is connected and the history of everyone. How would all the new residents or part time residents know what is going on or who is connected to each other. How do you think all the new residents find out about the home grown? They all seem jealous and they want to get back at something that happened way back in high school. They result to back stabbing each other and wanting to get back at one or another. The new residents and part time residents are constantly getting insulted, but that is OK, I am sure.
Kristin Hennessy
5:14 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2011
Mr. Clark,
I've heard Mr. Reid, Mr. Mayer, and Mr. Cortes state on more than a few occasions that this "Us Against Them" mentality must STOP immediately. They believe they are the team who possesses the inclusive diplomacy skills to accomplish the ending of this unhealthy and divisive ill-feeling among some of our residents.
Whether one is a "home grown" (long-time resident), a new resident, or a part-time resident should not matter. Everyone's perspectives should be valued. New residents bring new ideas to the table. Long-time residents understand the guiding principles that have made PPB the great town that it is. Part-time residents are part of the fabric of the community regardless of how much time they spend here.
With all due respect, I don't understand why you feel so alienated. Who is "back stabbing" each other? What does that even mean? I don't know if you are a new resident, an old resident, a part-time resident, or some combination of all 3. Frankly, I don't even care, because I maintain my belief that everyone's opinions are important, and we should all try to work together.
If you feel that you've been wronged in some way, then I'd suggest you take it up directly with whoever has made you feel that way. Call them up and have a conversation about your feelings. Be part of the solution! But to continue to perpetuate this "Us Against Them" mentality on a blog, is really quite counter-productive to solving the problem you believe exists.
Charles Clark
6:42 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2011
Kristen,
Just read the local paper of the OS. All the letters that are in there week to week, the latest few will tell you how some town residents feel. The latest one that sticks out the most and suggest we should vote for Mr. Reid because he is homegrown and he knows better than others. Really? I never even heard about Mr. Reid until about 2 years ago. You don't know what back stabbing means? If any one even suggest something that is not popular or goes against the grain you will get "verbally attacked"you should know that by now.
sandinmytoes
8:16 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2011
Mr. Clark, I wholeheartedly agree that there is a lot of verbal attacking going place. There's also quite a bit of it online. As I've stated before, in defense of my desire to stay anonymous, I post anonymously because I am afraid of retaliation against me for expressing my views. I've seen a post from someone else who mentioned that she (I think it was a she) has decided to post anonymously because she has kids in the school and is afraid to post under her real name. But, I don't think that fear is being caused by the "home grown" crowd. Based on everything you said, what do you think of Kitty Stiffulsen as a candidate? I'm guessing that you must like her as a choice for Council?
Charles Clark
8:30 pm on Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sand,
I agree and I am sure that is why most stay anonymous. They fear retaliation and it happens all the time if you speak out. Some might not care because they don't have kids in the school system. I always wondered why only some can speak out and others can't. It seems to be a double standard is allowed only for some. I do like Kitty, and I will give her my vote. I feel her character speaks for herself, I did hear a few say that they are going to give her a chance and vote her in, but unfortunately I don't think she has the same following as other for all different reasons no fault of her own. That's another problems that is everywhere. Many vote on popularity instead of issues and if they are truly capable of handling them.