How I feel about South Orange

Log Out | Lost Password? | Topics | Search | Who's Online Contact | Register | My Profile | SO home | MOL home

Thread Originator Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post   Closed: New threads not accepted on this page

Author Message   Debra Davidson Citizen Username: Peanutslady Post Number: 140 Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:09 pm:        This is how I fell about South Orange. I'm a resident. I feel there should be an open government were all the residents have a say in what goes on here in town? We should be able to give our input on the redevelopment of South Orange. We live here and we all must have say in what goes on in our community. I feel this town should have open meetings were we as resident can go and discuss the things that are happening in our town. We all should be able to tell the counsel what we feel and what we think would be a benefit for all of us. I know we all have our own point of views. By have the town counsel listen to us. They can then make a disseisin form what we all have said that will benefit the community as a hole. We all live here and I feel we must take pride in our town. By do that I mean taking a more active role in our community. For example keeping your property clean, going to the town meetings, participating in town events and volunteering to help do deferent things in the community when you have the time. I know we all live very busy lives and some of us do not have the time to volunteer and that OK. There are many ways to help in our community and you need to find the one that is right for you. When my nephews were in grade school my bother had them help him to clean up the park that was near their house. It showed my nephews how to take pride in our community. I just wanted to let you all know how I feel about this beautiful town we all live in.   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2633 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:11 pm:        Debra for BOT!   Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4376 Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:46 pm:        I'm sure you would be hard pressed to find anyone who disagress with Debra! Our town needs more people like you! BTW, any word about the event you were thinking of having? Let us know if you need help.   kegel Citizen Username: Kegel Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2006 Posted on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 9:16 pm:        In a round-a-bout way, all residents DO have a say in what goes on in town. It's called elections. If the people in office don't do what the majority like then they get voted out. The problem isn't that the people don't have a say. The problem is that a lot of people don't show up for elections.   ess Citizen Username: Ess Post Number: 1439 Registered: 11-2001 Posted on Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 2:30 pm:        I think Debra is saying there is a greater responsibility than just voting. It's putting your own heart and soul into your community. Just because you vote, Kegel, does not mean that your voice is necessarily heard. It is but one step in the direction Debra outlined.   phd6786 Citizen Username: Phd6786 Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 11:56 am:        Bump. Debra started here a positive thread – unique among the other bitching threads – and we let it die. Where are those who always find something to complain about? How do you feel about South Orange in general? Why did you choose to live here, and why do you still live here? South Orange has a lot to offer, yet there is so much more we could have if we had a decent government – which we don’t. I think both Debra and Kegel are right, we need both: a populace involved in the election process as Kegel says, as well as getting involved in the governance of our town as Debra describes it. It is time we fight the apathy that plagues our community. We need a new president and new trustees. How are we going to achieve that? There is hope, that’s why I still live here, yet that hope diminishes as I see the political apathy staying the same. Today is the Board of Ed elections. Schools and school taxes are very important for our community. I hope you all go out there and vote your choice. Be a part of the process. Show you care.   Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 179 Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 12:48 pm:        Apathy is a disease - it spreads..... Welcome phd6786... BUTTS ON SEATS AT THE BOT MEETINGS.... I see the same brave souls stand up at the meetings time after time. I see the look on the trustees faces each time, I see the disrespect the speakers are shown, or the rolled eyes, or the way they are talked to, but I believe that this is a credit to the speakers, they are making themselves noticed. They have facts, figures etc, the ask for information from the board and when it doesn't come they ask again, and again, and again. I believed, as I am sure the majority of people living here did, in the "Coming soon" syndrome that S.O seems to suffer from. I believed in the quality of life I was ensured, I believed in the wonderful environment we would be providing for our children.... I still believe this is possible, but I also believe that is going to be a long and hard proccess to pull us back up from the trough we are in now, and that requires the right people. Some may be right for us that are on the current BOT, but it is blatently obvious that others are very wrong. Trustees if you read this and take is personally, then good. I hope you do. Prove me wrong. PROVE TO US THAT WE ARE NOT A PERPETUAL "COMING SOON" TOWN. PROVE TO US THAT OUR FAITH IN yOU IS WELL FOUNDED. PROVE TO US THAT YOUR "INTERESTS" ARE FOR THE GOOD OF THE TOWN AND NOT JUST YOUR OWN. Can you prove that? Can you stand up, each one of you hand on heart and say that you are doing the best possible for South Orange? Unlike renters who find their apartment complex leaves a lot to be desired, we can't just up and leave. We didn't just buy a home, we bought into South Orange, and each person in this town deserves to be heard, deserves to be listened to without eye rolling, and when a problem comes up, it should not be hidden/buried/ignored etc...conflicting reports, statements etc should no longer be tolerated.I don't care about passing blame to prior BOT members, the problem is here and now and the here and now BOT members should face up to their elected responsibilties and deal with it. We all have to deal with the mess of people coming before us, and the BOT are no different in that respect. I do not suffer from apathy - as said at the beginning, it is a disease, but one that can be cured - attend the meetings - let the BOT know that it isn't only a handful of residents who feel this way, let them know this affects us all..   Bailey Citizen Username: Baileymac Post Number: 239 Registered: 3-2005 Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 1:00 pm:        Thanks phd, and thanks, Debra. I've lived here since 1971, raised 3 kids here. My Dad was very active in town politics for many years, even was Villager of the Year once. I've not followed in his footsteps though. I vote, at least most of the time, but that's about the extent of my personal involvement, same as many of us. I support local businesses when I can, but the lack of development in town has hurt. I have no choice but to shop somewhere else for most of what I need. My wife hasn't shopped in the pathmark since that awful car-jacking years ago. Maplewood Online has energized people though. It's given us a place to listen to what others are thinking, with which we can agree or not, and I think it's generating more "community" here than I've seen in a long time. We're mostly in agreement that the downtown revitalization has taken too long. Many have lost confidence in our current BOT, and unless we see changes soon, we'll probably elect new folks next time. Whether that will be enough to fix the problems remains to be seen. With the technology available today, we should encourage or require our elected officials to provide their "vision" of the future of South Orange. The internet and television are great venues, and it could give them the opportunity to respond to the many concerns of our citizens. It's a beautiful town with wonderful architecture, convenient transit, friendly people (mostly), and I still have hope.   Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 63 Registered: 9-2005 Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 6:00 pm:        There'll be a "Coming Soon" sign on the Pathmark building coming soon.   phd6786 Citizen Username: Phd6786 Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 6:15 pm:        And how do YOU feel about South Orange Kitchenguru?   Kitchenguru Citizen Username: Kitchenguru Post Number: 64 Registered: 9-2005 Posted on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 7:57 pm:        I'll tell you later, I'm going to the polls to place my votes.