| Author | Message | ||
     Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4364 Registered: 1-2004  |
Call me a glutton for punishment, for some reason last night I watched the BOT meeting from the other night. I'm bothered by more then one of the statements made by the woman in charge of the committee that approached Tony Smith's survivors for permission to fabricate a statue of his (oh you didn't know it wasn't Tony Smith's family who approached our elected officials with the offer of a statue? Ooooops!) According to what she said she, and her committee polled most of the residents in South Orange about the statue. According to what I think I heard they were met with overwhelming support in favor of the fabricated statue being put in the Village. Off the top of my head I remember Vose, The Montrose Area, The Newstead Area, and Prospect being mentioned as streets this poll was taken. It supposedly was considered a good cross section of those living in South Orange. Anyone here have the pleasure of being 'polled?' If you were, were you made aware Tony Smith's family did not approach the Village with the offer of a 'gift,' but this committee approached the family for a statue? Were you informed our taxes will be paying for the majority of the costs for the statue? Does anyone thing these committee members should be held accountable for all costs associated with the statue? Hey, take a homeowners loan to pay for it. I also couldn't believe the unprofessional way some of the BOT members communicate with the members of our community. One of our newer town residents was insulted and pretty much told since he's only lived here a short time he has no clue what's been going on. I say "get real." This man, who was home eating dinner with his family, had the BOT meeting on while they were eating. He felt so strongly about what he was seeing and hearing he went down to the BOT meeting to speak. Instead of being grateful a new resident wasnted to get involved, this poor guy got an earful. While he stayed calm, more then on of our BOT members looked as if their head would burst. Okay, maybe not that bad, but you could tell they weren't happy. One of the BOT members made it a point to say there have been up to two dozen people come to the BOT meetings to speak in favor of the statue, yet only a couple have spoken out against it. I have to say I don't blame people for not coming to a meeting to speak their mind. I know I don't because from what I've seen on the computer feeds, when the BOT doesn't agree with what you have to say they yell at you and insult you. Something needs to change. I'm not sure if it matters or not contracts have been signed. There has got to be something we can do to force those accountable for this mess to pay for it. | ||
| Crazy_quilter Citizen Username: Crazy_quilter Post Number: 220 Registered: 2-2005 |
i wasn't polled. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 350 Registered: 7-2005  |
Um...no poll here.. Newstead and montrose...amazing cross section of south orange..THPPPPPT  additionally did the poll question tell these people they were going to be paying for this hunk-o-sunshine, rainbows, and fluffy bunnies and/or kittens(w/ mittens)? | ||
| composerjohn Citizen Username: Composerjohn Post Number: 765 Registered: 8-2004  |
Nope - I wasn't polled. Glock - I know you don't like the sculpture, but calling it a "hunk-o-junk" is disrespectful and dimishes your ability to effectively agrue against it. | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 940 Registered: 10-2004  |
I wasnt polled either and while I personally also consider it to be a 'hunk-o-junk' I would never say so on MOL. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 352 Registered: 7-2005 |
John, I hope my edit pleases you. But if an art critic called it a Hunk-o-Junk would you still be so offended? Or would you just take it because an "art critic" said it? | ||
| composerjohn Citizen Username: Composerjohn Post Number: 766 Registered: 8-2004 |
I wasn't offended. I respect your opinion. However, I think phrases like "hunk-o-junk" are divisive and somewhat mean spirited. As a composer of orchestral concert music, I've been on the receiving end of similar comments and it really sucks. By the way, I don't think an art critic would ever use the phrase "hunk-o-junk". But hey... you never know. If one did, I wouldn't be offended, although I might question his credentials and agenda. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 176 Registered: 1-2006 |
This Montrosian affirms under penalty of perjury: No one polled me. jd | ||
| CageyD Citizen Username: Cageyd Post Number: 661 Registered: 6-2003 |
West Montrose checking in - no poll done here | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3568 Registered: 5-2001  |
Mayhew Drive (Upper Wyoming) - No poll | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 177 Registered: 1-2006 |
Ahh, on second thought, cj: your point is that if one really dislikes the bent metal, Anthony Smith wannabe copy, not-yet-bent, and think it is junk, she is divisive for uttering such opinion. Don't we embrace diversity in our dear town/village/township? Your opinion is that no other opinion is worthy? Perhaps those who think it is junk, or a hunk of junk are right, and you are wrong. The difference is that we dissenting majority understand that there are other opinions held in good faith. jd | ||
| composerjohn Citizen Username: Composerjohn Post Number: 767 Registered: 8-2004 |
I don't think my opinion is better than others. You have every right to think it is junk. With art, there is no right and wrong. My only point was that the phrase was divisive, not the opinion. I guess I'm talking semantics here.  | ||
| noracoombs Citizen Username: Noracoombs Post Number: 137 Registered: 8-2002 |
Seton Hall neighborhood (Fairview)--no polls. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4366 Registered: 1-2004 |
Would it be out of line to post the phone number and email address of the person who is in charge of the organization that supposedly conducted this poll to let her know our thoughts on the situation? She gave both, including her home address out at the BOT Meeting Monday night. I just don't want to get into trouble, or get the Ross brothers into trouble. I just realized, I forgot a street mentioned in this 'poll' they conducted -Hillside. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1865 Registered: 8-2002 |
WELL -- later she said "a representive number from each neighborhood" were polled. SO -- by inference "a majority were polled" IF (and I doubt it was) a truly scientifically sampled survey that could be said. BUT I don't think that happened, even though she is a CBS pollster. (if she did that -- where is the data??) (*not* polled!) /p | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3570 Registered: 5-2001 |
JTA, The email address she stated PUBLICLY was: TonySmithProject@verizonmail.com | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 338 Registered: 4-2004 |
Berkeley Ave ... no poll. Also, I liked how she said all gifts come with costs. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 486 Registered: 6-2005 |
Not polled either, nor was anyone I know. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 1109 Registered: 5-2003 |
I wasn't polled. As an aside, I was polled when the BOT was contemplating erecting another large plastic orange on a stick, like the one in front of the middle school, at the intersection of SO avenue and Ridgewood Road. It was supposed to cost $20,000, if I remember correctly. I was vociferous in my objection to that. What's going to be the next scheme after the Tau? Has to be something crazier and more expensive. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 105 Registered: 2-2006 |
I think what Ms. Arnedt did was organize "focus groups" in different areas of town to drum up business for what she wanted to do. This is a marketing ploy, not an objective poll of public opinion. composerjohn, do you know anything about viola da gamba (sp? or viol) music? I just saw, All the Mornings of the World (Touts les Matins du Monde) again about 17th C players and composers (Ste. Colombe and Maran Marais). It seemed biographical, but do you know if it is? (Would you consider starting a music thread on MOL where people could ask questions about it?) | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 106 Registered: 2-2006 |
Lizziecat, I really wish you were kidding, but it sounds like you're not.....? A $20,000 plastic orange on a pole? You're saying there is one littering a middle school now but they mounted a second one also? We now have two of these in town? Are there plans to bejewel Tau with more? | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2623 Registered: 5-2004  |
Actually, Pete, a representative sampling is significantly less than a majority. Consider all the national polls that are done with a couple of thousand people surveyed. They have very high confidence levels, as long as the sampling is truly random. Assuming a real poll was done (as opposed to a push poll, or some other highly biased process), there are lots of factors that can affect the results, such as time of day (e.g. who is home), was the sample self-selecting, questions asked and how they were asked, how the poll was prefaced, etc. There are some polling experts around here who can explain it better, but I would be curious as to exactly how the poll was conducted. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 487 Registered: 6-2005 |
If there was a bona fide poll done, there should be no reason why it could not be shared with the citizens, given that we are being asked to foot a large chunk of the bill. Perhaps she provide the protocol, questionnaire, analysis and results to Mr. Gross to post on the village website. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 179 Registered: 1-2006 |
Polls are done by neutral third parties with no stake or interest in the matter. Except when you have a done deal. jd | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8903 Registered: 4-1997  |
No poll here. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 1111 Registered: 5-2003 |
SOrising: Look in front of the middle school, and you'll see the plastic orange (I thought, when I first saw it, that it was a pumpkin for Halloween). I think it's lit up at night. And yes, they did want to erect another one, but so far, I don't think they have. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 355 Registered: 7-2005 |
That was presented by my graduating class...did we have any say in it? no...just like this statue | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 108 Registered: 2-2006 |
I haven't seen the plastic orange, Glock, but what is it for? And to think, it even is electrified. What will they think of next? How about a plastic model of our fantasy "gourmet" supermarket? They could call it a bank and when you put your pennies in, they drop out the bottom. No one will ever know where they go, but it might attract tourists just like the Blarney Stone. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2624 Registered: 5-2004 |
I thought it was explicitly not an Orange, but something entirely different? | ||
| campbell29 Citizen Username: Campbell29 Post Number: 376 Registered: 4-2002 |
Live off Prospect - no poll. Never heard of the thing until people started howling about it here. BTW - I was walking on Springfield Ave this morning and was amazed by how it seems to be shaping up. I wish we could get that kind of progress here rather than a big old statue that will just draw even more attention to the general decrepitude of the village. | ||
| O'Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8910 Registered: 4-1997 |
It's an orange with pumpkin leaves. It represents the lack of vision and planning in the town's present leadership. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 357 Registered: 7-2005 |
Simply put...I was embarrassed to be part of the class that presented that as a gift. | ||
| vermontgolfer Supporter Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 355 Registered: 12-2002 |
Newstead and no poll here either. MHD, I haven't checked the email address you posted, but I believe, I could be wrong, that all verizon emails end in '.net', not '.com' | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3574 Registered: 5-2001 |
VG...I thought the exact same thing, but if you go to www.verizonmail.com, it's real. | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1526 Registered: 3-2003 |
I live in the same neighborhood as pete, jayjay and vermontgolfer - no poll here. I think SOrising is correct about focus groups. In my limited experience with focus groups in SO, you normally invite people who you think share your opinion. | ||
| vermontgolfer Supporter Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 357 Registered: 12-2002 |
MHD, OK, thanks. | ||
| Tommy O'Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13038 Registered: 1-2003  |
peteglider, a representative number doesn't mean majority. In fact, by definition, a poll samples a minority of the population. I'm not saying anyone conducted the poll properly, however. I'm just saying what a poll is and isn't. | ||
| O'Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8912 Registered: 4-1997 |
Statistically speaking, if there were a poll, we would have at least one person posting that they had been polled. | ||
| Tommy O'Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13040 Registered: 1-2003 |
That's based on a polling percentage of what? And based on how many people here who both read and post? | ||
| O'Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8913 Registered: 4-1997 |
Based on the initial statement in this thread, "According to what she said she, and her committee polled most of the residents in South Orange" I think at least one person would be posting here. (Defining "most" as > 50%.) |
