| Author |
Message |
    
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3613
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 8:26 pm: | 
|
I tuned in late to the BOT Meeting tonight to hear them debating whether to have more or less issues of the Gaslight.
Personally, I think there should be less because in today's information age a hardcopy newsletter is pretty antiquated as soon as it is written.
Although, I wonder if this headline will make it into the next issue:
 |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 504
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 8:43 pm: |
|
Taylor said he wants it to be run by "people who are hungry for news". I wonder if he really understood what he said. |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1553
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:17 pm: |
|
Where's Terriann? I think she's been absent for most of the meetings this year. |
Debra Davidson
Citizen
Username: Peanutslady
Post Number: 141
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:23 pm: |
|
I absolutely love the Gaslight News letter. I wish it were 12 months a year instead of 10 months a year. I feel very, very strongly that The Gaslight is an asset to South orange and it's residents. It helps all of us living in South Orange keep up with what is harping in our community. I would miss The Gaslight terrible if we didn't have it. |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 350
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 9:42 pm: |
|
I like the Gaslight. It's good for starting fires that I sit next to when I read and post on MOL.
J.B. |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 613
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 12:25 am: |
|
Where can I get a copy? |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 498
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 6:43 am: |
|
Look at the SO Web site - http://www.southorange.org/gaslight.asp
Maybe the paper version should be by subscription only? |
Stuart0628
Citizen
Username: Stuart0628
Post Number: 235
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 9:43 am: |
|
Ideally, a pdf of The Gaslight could be e-mailed to all who sign up for it, and the paper version could be limited to those who have not registered their e-mail addresses.
We could save some trees and some postage while making sure everyone has access to this newsletter, which is occasionally quite informative.
Note: Merely posting this to the website isn't enough...it should be "pushed" out to the residents.
It gets tricky since culling the snail mail delivery list could be labor intensive, and there is the issue of ever-changing resident e-mail addresses, but my hope is that we can end up there eventually. |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 130
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:05 am: |
|
I thought the discussion about the Gaslight at the BOT meeting last night was good and worthwhile. They seem like they are trying to communicate with the public better in light of budgetary constraints.
I am not in favor of removing hard copy communication for everything. I wonder if they could increase the number from 10 to 11 and then to 12 AND reduce the size of particular issues if there is really not much to report. EAch and every issue need not be the same length. There might be ways to reduce mailing costs. If people signed up to pick their copies up at the train station voluntarily, for example, or at the PO or library, voluntarily, it could save the town mailing expenses. People might do this. They could still have designated copies for each household only, with their name/address on it.
Not everyone has access to computers and it is really insensitive of the town to assume they do. Many elderly with arthritis and bad eye sight cannot use computers well if at all, for example. There are other populations as well. A hard copy is good to have for reference, in a file, on a fridge, wherever.
I think there may be ways to increase to a monthly vehicle while also keeping costs under control. They said they will continue to discuss it, which may be a good thing. I do hope more realistic coverage of development projects is required, however. The propaganda photos do not enhance the BOT's credibility. |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 131
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:08 am: |
|
The quality of reportage needs to be significantly improved in the Gaslight.
They could save a lot by changing grades of paper. Newsprint might save on costs significantly. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3618
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:18 am: |
|
The problem is that the Gaslight is nothing more than a propaganda rag for the Administration. Here are some prior quotes:
May 2005: The Village Planning Board
has signed a 30-year lease agreement
with grocery store operator
John Choi, who will open South
Orange’s new gourmet supermarket
by Christmas of this year.
April 2003: Owner Sayid Nagim is
demolishing the building housing his Oriental Rug Center to build a new 7,000-
square-foot showroom with 14 apartments on the second and third floors and
25 rear parking spaces.
All approvals have been granted and construction is expected to begin by summer.
April 2003
Beifus Mercedes was located at this
address for 30 years.
Approved by the Planning Board and Essex County.
Demolition is set for April and construction is estimated at 14 months. |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 138
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 11:17 am: |
|
Well, MHD, get rid of the propaganda, change the content, don't eliminate the vehicle. If another board were elected that took pains to forbid propaganda, a newsletter would still be needed. |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 506
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 12:06 pm: |
|
This board is interesting in communicating as long as they can carefully control the message. The whole thing with the sculpture shows that they are disengenuous. Nothing has stopped them from including real information about the Tony Smith sculpture in the Gaslight...how it is funded in detail...where it is going to be installed...what the installation will look like, etc. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing I use the Gaslight for is for the recycling schedule, and I'm sure they could disseminate that for far less money.
I'm not sure who writes the newsletter, but I'd like to know who has the contract for that, and what their directive is.
And then there's Taylor, who didn't understand why the place that prints it doesn't also write it. Yeah, there must be tons of printers who are writers, and writers who are printers. (Is he joking?) Actually, maybe he's onto something. It could be quite the read if the printer wrote it. Heck, he could at least have an occassional editorial. |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 499
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 12:07 pm: |
|
Stuart, my comment on subscriptions are to both snail and e:mail. Include information as part of a package given to new residents (real estate agents/Certificate of Occupancy). |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 139
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 12:31 pm: |
|
It would bother me, Howard, if residents couldn't even have a basic newsletter from the town without paying extra. I don't think people should have to pay selectively for basic information about the town. This is even truer if the content does not improve.
jayjay and others, if the Gaslight has been misused, and I've certainly seen instances in which it has been, a start would be to get answers to some of your questions. Who writes it now under what kind of oversight/editorial guidelines? I agree it is a poor source of information much of the time. But it doesn't have to be. A survey included in the last issue is an improvement.
There could be a question and answer section in which the town responded to peoples questions. If they didn't respond fully or acurately, people should complain to the BOT about it.
The basic issue is still whether to save the vehicle and put it to better use or to scrap it because this may not be possible. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3623
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 12:38 pm: |
|
Quote:There could be a question and answer section in which the town responded to peoples questions
You mean like this? 
Q: I was wondering if you could explain where the money for the Tony Smith Sculpture is coming from?
A: Sure..it is coming from a grant. The money is coming from a grant. There is a grant to pay for this. There won't be any taxpayer money being spent. I make no apologies for using a grant for this project. It is definitely a grant. We received a grant and are using it for this grant-ed project. Thanks for writing.
---
Q: I thought the grant could only be used for SOPAC.
A: We just CLEARLY TOLD the previous questioner - the money is coming from a "Bond". Please pay attention Thanks for writing.
---
Q: I was wondering if you could explain why it is not a Conflict of Interest to appoint Mary Theroux to the Parking Authority?
A: She was a good Trustee and decided not to run for re-election on her own, so obviously there is no conflict. Thanks for writing.
----
Q: Can you please explain why Bill Calabrese recused himself from a discussion of Sayid's rug store and abstained from voting on the Beifus site for "personal reasons"?
A: What really is a Conflict of Interest? Isn't life just one big conflict between life and death? Thanks for writing.
----
Q: Can you please do something about the pace of the Beifus, Shop Rite and Rug Store projects?
A: Over the past 8 years, housing prices have skyrocketed BECAUSE these projects have remained dormant and we want to see this trend continue. Thanks for writing.
|
SO1969
Citizen
Username: Bklyn1969
Post Number: 249
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 12:43 pm: |
|
I liked how this month the article on the 3 special public forums had a spiral, trippy background...the visual effect seemed to suggest "if you want straight answers, don't bother with these meetings."
Generally, I like that the organ exists and would like to see more hard info pushed out to residents via it...like a drawing of the T. Smith sculpture in context (to scale, showing its full horror) and a sources and uses showing its costs and funding sources. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 689
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 3:39 pm: |
|
I like the Gaslight and want more information disseminated to the town not less (details, renderings, questionnaires about whether residents want public art before newsletters, library repairs, town hall repairs...).
And my take on the dumb graphic SO1969 mentioned is that it is a spiral and they want to hypnotize the public into believing what they read before they get...too...sleeeeeppppyy-z-z-z-z-z-zzz. |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 140
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 5:25 pm: |
|
Yes, MHD, you are correct. I thought after my last post that someone independent of the town would have to be in charge of the question and answer column to ensure that questions received are actually printed. If the town didn't answer the question, the original questioner could follow up the next month.
To work, it would have to be a truly independent third party. Depending on the number of questions, they might also have to select questions or come up with a way to decide which questions were published in which order. I guess the third party would have to be something like a good-faith mediator in diplomatic conflict negotiations. |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 500
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 6:52 pm: |
|
SOrising: My use of subscription was not meant to be at a cost but rather specific individual addresses rather than a mailing all to "resident". |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 507
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 9:16 pm: |
|
I guess none of us posters know who writes the Gaslight and under whose direction. It would be nice to know. Shouldn't that be public information if it is being paid for by the public? |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 143
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 12:36 pm: |
|
It seemed pretty clear from Tuesday night's BOT meeting that John Gross hires and oversees whoever designs, writes and prints the Gaslight, jayjay. (So many realizations about the town are heartbreaking, you know. It is difficult to plow through them all and I understand why many don't.) Among many suspect aspects of the Gaslight is the fact that no editor or authors of the articles are ever listed. If they want to upgrade it, they really need to do something about that.
Yes, I think it would be good to know who has the contracts to design, write and print the Gaslight, jayjay. Perhaps one of the trustees will let the public know once they find out from Mr. Gross. They just need to be asked.
Thanks for clarifying, Howard. I had misunderstood you. I'm not sure what the signifigance of the difference would be? Do you mean that if they have a specific name rather than "resident" on the address, they would produce fewer copies and save money? When I suggested that people could volunteer to pick up their copy around town in order to reduce mailing costs, I think real names would have to be on individual copies for that to work.
Another thought about an independently managed question and answer section, if it couldn't keep up with demand, they could expand the service to the village web site. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 11
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 9:49 am: |
|
If as stated the Gaslight is a propaganda tool for the administration, and not letting the residents know the true facts, interesting points etc, then is there anything prohibiting our town from having another newsletter? If this is permissible, it should take the high road, NOT to be used for badmouthing etc, but for contructive information. Residents can have input (content edited for length, suitability etc) but let it be for the people, informative and interesting for the people. We all have opinions.. I know there are some people who do not have computers, but initially to keep costs down, it could be on an e-mail subsciption (no cost) basis, if someone knows others with no computers, then they could print a copy out and give it to them! This wouldn't need to be a big publication, just facts pertaining to our town, town events, social and the like, dates of meetings that can be attended, social club news, local events etc etc, but TAKE THE HIGH ROAD, be something of quality and value. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2651
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 12:26 pm: |
|
It would be unconstitutional for that to be prohibited. Something about het first amendement, and all. the problem is that while peope like to post ehre and rage about things, very few are willing to put effort behind their rage.
If you can get people to be involved, great. I applaud the effort. Judging by atendance at BoT meetings, it is more fun to rant online than actually address issues in a manner that can resolve them. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 13
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 12:33 pm: |
|
Rastro - Thank you,
I don't like falling back on old sayings, but the one "Every great oak grows from a small acorn" comes to mind. I will start putting out a few enquiries as to how this could be started, and I know it will be hard work, and will always bear in mind that if this gets off the ground it will reflect what I would hope to be the life in South Orange in time to come - QUALITY..and certainly no-ones political mouthpiece... |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2653
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 2:36 pm: |
|
Soparents,
I hope I did not give the impression that I was mocking your effort. In rereading what I wrote, I could see it coming across that way. What I was more trying to convey is that realistically, for every 100 people who say "Yes! I agree" maybe one will actually get involved. That should not stop you from trying to do something good.
Also, my typing was horrific.
My apologies. |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 17
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 2:42 pm: |
|
Rastro, no apology necessary, I assure you!
I am more than aware that most will say "yes" but when it comes to showing effort they will say "after you"... it's the way of the world.... I will give it a good go, after all, I think it's worth a try!!!  |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page