| Author |
Message |
    
Jmadison
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 12:42 pm: |     |
I just read the Times. It's obvious that the Jefferson area is determined to roll back the reval, and that at least two members of the TC will help them do it. Is the HNA organizing? As i read the tea leaves, the reval will be put on hold and it will be too late for the eastsiders to appeal their old assessments, which they now know had them paying more than their fair share. As Nakaille pointed out, we knew they were too high: but we thought that the burden was distributed equally. Now the cat is out of the bag. But it looks like we will be stuck for another year. |
Gerardryan
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 12:51 pm: | |
Jmadison, I think your reading of the tea leaves is flawed. |
Jmadison
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 12:56 pm: | |
Mr. Ryan: I'd love to be proven wrong. Thank you for responding. |
Gerardryan
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 1:02 pm: | |
The press release Vic posted observes that any issues can be addressed administratively and without litigation. I know that other folks are thinking of suing the town, and I can't speak to that, but based on our review of the work and the contract to date, the town won't be suing Certified. |
Harold
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 5:09 pm: | |
Let me spell it out....the east side is east of Springfield Ave., the west is everything west of Valley St., the middle[Tuscan] is between Valley and Spring., and Lord knows what you call the area by Boyden that borders Irv. and Newark. |
Jmadison
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 5:59 pm: | |
Harold: I guess my headline was unclear. What I meant was: WHY AREN'T THE EAST SIDERS ORGANIZING THE WAY THE WEST SIDERS ARE? I e-mailed "eastsidevoice" and got no response. I made a few phone calls: nothing going on. |
Exercisenut
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 6:00 pm: | |
As a new resident of the area by Boyden, whatever that is called, I am disappointed by what I am reading on this message board regarding East vs. West. On the eve of the MLK holiday, I am saddened by all of this focus on who lives where and how much in taxes everyone is paying. Some "Westsiders" seem to want to blame the "Eastsiders" for their raise in taxes. To me, this seems like a very underhanded and not so subtle form of racism. I don't feel any sorrier for a longtime "Westside" resident who is struggling with high taxes as I do for myself, a first time homeowner who can barely afford to buy any home in Maplewood, let alone one on the "exclusive" Westside. Let's face it, when people feel economically frustrated it's easy to find some sort of scapegoat. One of the reasons we chose to move to Maplewood was for the liberal and integrated neighborhoods. If some Westside residents are unhappy with their integrated town and high taxes, they certainly can move to a lily-white suburb in the Mid-west. Then they'll have no one to blame for their unhappiness. That comes from within. And by the way, I really like my neighborhood because of its integrated mix of people. I believe that anyone who can afford to buy a home and maintain it, regardless of race, ethnicity, orientation, etc. should do so. Those particular narrow-minded Westsiders, and you know who you are, can keep your side of town, and your snobby attitudes! |
Jmadison
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 6:28 pm: | |
OK, i've heard that the east side is passing out a petition to support the reval. That's good. Exercisenut: I sympathize with you, but I wouldn't get too exercised about racism: I believe that the only color that matters to anyone in this conflict is green. |
Tom
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 7:27 pm: | |
There's definitely some mobilization happening in the Boyden area. I was outside yesterday and a guy was going door-to-door encouraging us to be at the TC meeting Tuesday night to support the re-eval, because if our neighborhood isn't heard from the whole thing will get thrown out. I plan to be there. |
Eb1154
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 7:56 pm: | |
Jmadison,
Yes, there is a petition going around in the east side of the town. And, I'm sorry but I didn't get your e-mail or I would have responded to you.
We have a couple of hundred names on the petition already. If you would like to help it would be appreciated. I was one of the people walking the streets yesterday and after I was done I talked with a couple of the others and compared our day.
It was amazing at how many people didn't realize what was going on with the people who are trying to get the evaluations thrown out. And then, there were those who felt that the TC would do what they promised when they started this whole project regardless of what the other people do. I hope they are right!!! We started out just askikng for the people to sign the petition, but as the day went on and we talked to the people it was clear that they needed to go to the meeting and have their opinions and stories heard. They all felt that the politicians would give in to the "rich and powerful" again. I found myself defending the poiticians and then questioning myself as to whether I still believed in them. THe answer for now, is still yes. We will see after the meeting if I still feel this way.
The day shed a lot of light on the subject that has yet to be mentioned. We have heard over and over from the people who will have to pay the higher taxes that they will no longer be able to live here after being here thirty years. Well, the same holds true for some people on this side of town and the sad truth of the matter is that some of the seniors have already had to move because they couldn't afford an extra $1000.00 in taxes. Now it has been proven that they have been overpaying but it's too late. They sold!! They were forced to choose between eating and living in Maplewood.
So, when I think of what these residents are going through or have been or will go through it hardly seems fair that I should be concerned with someone who has to make the choice of lliving in Maplewood or being able to drive a BMW.
GREED seems to have taken over and thrown compassion to the side. Sure you paying more wil crimp your style but will it starve you. The answer is no you will simply have to cut back on some of your spending. Or in the worst case you would hae to move to a smaller house or move to a different section of town. A thought that might scare you. Why I don't know. Especially after everyone says we are one Maplewood.
In summary, I want you to think of the little old lady who chooses to live in Maplewood and not eat because you feel your are overtaxed and she isn't.
EB1154 |
Exercisenut
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 8:00 pm: | |
Jmadison -- I agree. Unfortunately, money makes the world go 'round.
Tom - could you please give specifics about the TC meeting, and what is happening in the Boyden area? |
Ihateice
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 9:50 pm: | |
Excercisenut...how the heck do you get "racism" out of the east vs west saga? I hate it when people cry racism for every little thing! Get a life. |
Tom
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 10:16 pm: | |
All I know is that the meeting is Tuesday night at 7. Presumably you've got to get there early!
As far as the boyden area, there are petitions going around (haven't seen one yet myself, though hope springs eternal). EB1154 has posted is email address on another thread, he's associated with a group that's spearheading the east-side initiative. |
Gerardryan
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 11:05 pm: | |
Meeting is at 8. |
Mlj
| | Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001 - 11:16 pm: | |
I am alarmed by all the angry rhetoric regarding the perceived subsidizing by one group of another group's share of taxes. Especially the nasty attacks on the personal character of people you don't even know, but judge them as rich, greedy, racist, etc. because they protest huge, immediate tax increases on top of the huge taxes they are already paying. What about people who formerly lived in an area which now stands to get reductions. Should they form a group and demand remedy for those years of overpayment and inequity? What about people who have no children in the school district? Are they unfairly burdened with taxes that subsidize another group? Should they organize too and seek remedy? |
Exercisenut
| | Posted on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 1:38 am: | |
Ihateice -- you're pretty cold! We're all entitled to our opinions, and you certainly seem to be pretty opinionated! I'm not sure how frequently you've been reading the board, but recently there have been some questionable statements which I have found to be racist. And, to say the least, very bitter.
P.S. I don't cry racism for "every little thing." Talk about jumping to conclusions!!!
To the others, including Mr. Ryan, thank you for the information. |
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