| Author | Message | ||
     Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4352 Registered: 1-2004  |
WOW Did someone get mad when confronted with the truth. Don't our BOT members realize these meetings are taped? It was admitted money used for the statue was gotten under questionable means. You would think Tony Smith's family would be outraged and not associated with this kind of behavior. I wounder if they have legal grounds to take back their gift. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4358 Registered: 1-2004 |
I can't believe what I'm hearing about 5o minutes into the meeting. If I'm hearing correctly, either someone misappropriated funds from the Arts Center for the sculpture or they out and out stole it. And I thought this meeting would put me to sleep. I love the way Gross gets mad and yells at MG. Then Bill tries to shut him up. Poor Ed looks like he wants to strangle someone. Best quote from that meeting thus far (1.0 into into) "With all due respect we elected them, not you..." | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4359 Registered: 1-2004 |
Anyone Did I hear right? Tony Smith's family did not approach the Village with the offer of this 'gift?' That it was a committee that approached the Tony Smith Estate for the gift? (you can find this at 1:18:29). This makes things even worse. Sure the individuals might have went and canvassed on Prospect, Hillside, Vose and in the Montrose area about the statue; but were the people they spoke with informed of the cost to the Village or that our tax money would be used? Up until I heard this clip I thought family members of Toy Smith approached the Village. If this group wants the statue, let them pay for it. Mortgage their house if they have to. They are the ones who went to the estate to persuade them to allow the village to build the statue. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2618 Registered: 5-2004  |
JTA, read hte star ledger article. Not only did they approach his family, but they assumed the cost would be MUCH less than what it turned out to be. I think they were naive in assuming what the cost would be to actually put the statue in place. Fabricating the statue is a small fraction of the overall cost. And once again I think there is a belief that we've gone too far to turn back. The fiscal irresponsibility of our admnistration seems to have no bounds. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3567 Registered: 5-2001  |
You might wonder, What can YOU do about this continued fiscal irresponsibility and lying to the public? Here are some suggestions: Write a Letter to the Editor of the Star Ledger: Please e-mail to: eletters@starledger.com (letters to the editor) oped@starledger.com (op-ed articles). Submissions may be mailed to: Editorial Department, The Star-Ledger, 1 Star-Ledger Plaza, Newark, NJ, 07102-1200. Letters must not exceed 200 words. Op-ed articles must not exceed 800 words. All submissions must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Write a Letter to the Editor of the News Record: editorial@thelocalsource.com Must be submitted by 9am on Monday for printing in Thursday's edition and must include your real name and phone number Write a Letter to the Board of Trustees: ajosrosen@aol.com arthur@mec.cuny.edu mrosnernyc@yahoo.com stacey.jennings@hp.com nishesq@optonline.net WCfuzzy@aol.com edevaris@southorange.org Attend the next BOT Meeting and SPEAK UP Print and Distribute Copies of the Star Ledger Article http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-1/114240237272090.xml&c oll=1 Venting on MOL has NO impact. If you are tired of this behavior, DO SOMETHING | ||
| Eric DeVaris Citizen Username: Eric_devaris Post Number: 313 Registered: 2-2003  |
CORRECTION For Eric DeVaris please do not use the e-mail address given in MHD's post above. I will only respond to e-mail received in this address: edevaris@southorange.org | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3571 Registered: 5-2001 |
Eric, Thank you for the clarification. Based on the Meeting a few weeks ago, technically all Trustees SHOULD be contacted at a southorange.org address for official business. However, other than Eric, I cannot confirm how many of them are actually using the southorange.org address. | ||
| Otto von Bismarck Citizen Username: Parkingsux Post Number: 349 Registered: 6-2005  |
I proclaim here before you that it won't be my tax dollars repaying the bonds for the next 30 years.... I'm moving to Germany as soon as I can.  | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8906 Registered: 4-1997  |
(Note: I have edited Eric's e-mail in MHD's post per his preference) | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2683 Registered: 4-2002 |
My emails to Mrosner@southorange.org are automatically forwarded to my yahoo account (mrosnernyc@yahoo.com). Technically, all village emails should go to the southorange.org for all trustees when discussing village business. | ||
| Eric DeVaris Citizen Username: Eric_devaris Post Number: 314 Registered: 2-2003 |
Thank you Dave. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3576 Registered: 5-2001 |
In case anyone was curious about the SCALE of this sculpture, a resident sent me this picture of them in front of the "other original" copy of Tau in NYC:  Think about that next time you walk past the existing Gazebo on Sloan Street. | ||
| SO1969 Citizen Username: Bklyn1969 Post Number: 240 Registered: 7-2004 |
WOW!!! This thing is truly horrific. The governance / finance matters have been handled so badly and have rec'd so much justified attention I'd almost forgot how concerned I was about the aesthetics - way worse than my previous mental image - and that was bad. Great post MHD. This is so easy, having same sculpture in NY and all...why doesn't the Village put on its website a similar photo, as suggested by other posters, and also include in the Gaslight. They should also show a drawing in context of the proposed sculpture on Sloan St., but I think just showing a similar photo will be enough to get the attention of the general population of S. Orange. QUESTION FOR BOT MEMBERS: BEFORE WRITING ESSENTIALLY A BLANK CHECK (BUT WE KNOW IT WILL BE AT LEAST $250K) FOR THIS, DID ANY OF YOU SPEND $25 TO GO SEE IT IN REAL LIFE IN NYC? If you can't spare my wallet, please save my cardiovascular and mental health by placing this somewhere where I can choose to not look at it every day - Baird, Grove Park, either works for me. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 491 Registered: 6-2005 |
Why couldn't we have gotten one of these (click on Tau after you get to the page): http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.artnet.com/artwork_images_458_ 129449t_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.artnet.com/artist/15768/tony-smith.html&h=131& w=185&sz=4&tbnid=mgcDoaNT6bLQRM:&tbnh=67&tbnw=96&hl=en&start=5&prev=/images%3Fq% 3Dtony%2Bsmith%2Btau%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG and it could have been installed INSIDE the train station on a pedastal or something? Why did we need the full size version? BTW, Hunter College has had to restore their Tau already. Wonder what that cost. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4371 Registered: 1-2004 |
SO NO! NO! NO! Please do NOT put it by the Baird Center! I don't want to look at it when I go to the pool. At least I'm not in the Village that often. You should see the suggestions for where it should go under the Maplewood Topic. Maybe we should put it on the piece of land next to Bill's house in Newstead? Or on the front lawn of the woman's house who pushed so hard for Tony Smith's family to allow us the honor of spending our tax money on this 'gift!' | ||
| SO1969 Citizen Username: Bklyn1969 Post Number: 241 Registered: 7-2004 |
The maintenance issue - NYC Tau already being restored - reminds me that Mark Rosner - our most responsive representative and generally a good egg - seems to think that whatever we've been paying for the fountain and the gazebo maintenance will cover Tau going forward. Looking at Tau, I can see why so many posters say "tag up" - it's just begging for it. Back to Mark, a few quick thoughts: (1) 2 wrongs don't make a right. Just because the BOT/Village has been short-sighted on paying for projects with high maintenance costs in the past doesn't justify continuing to do so (2) Fountain could easily be turned into a planter; maintenance costs almost $0 (3) As you know, gazebo pigeon dropping problem can be solved easily with proper pigeon deterrents installed (a la the Wachovia Bank signs)on the perches | ||
| Dan Shelffo Citizen Username: Openspacer Post Number: 179 Registered: 6-2001  |
Tag up  | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4379 Registered: 1-2004 |
MHD- What does the person in the picture have to say about the statue mess in town? | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4380 Registered: 1-2004 |
Dan- What does that say?  | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 181 Registered: 1-2006 |
"FOOLS" | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1530 Registered: 3-2003 |
Who's running the pool to see how long it takes to get tagged? Glock gets it. Too bad the BOT doesn't. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4386 Registered: 1-2004 |
Spitz Read the 'Statue' subject under the Maplewood Topic. There's something about this there. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3583 Registered: 5-2001 |
I am curious - who specifically is on the "Tony Smith Committee"? A few weeks back, some people gave the BOT "goody bags" that contained stationery with the names of all members. Mark/Eric - could you share the names of those people here? | ||
| Crazy_quilter Citizen Username: Crazy_quilter Post Number: 222 Registered: 2-2005 |
why is it too late? will we lose some money if we don't continue forward? will we be sued? | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3585 Registered: 5-2001 |
Crazy, Supposedly the "gift" from the Estate had a "timeline", so the Village quivered in fear about missing that deadline and has now signed a contract to have the sculpture fabicated. However, Calabrese has also stated it will be "worth" several hundred thousand dollars once built, so maybe we should SELL it? I am still curious - who specifically is on the "Tony Smith Committee"? | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 495 Registered: 6-2005 |
Also, given that taxpayer dollars are going towards it, is this an official town committee or just some ad hoc group. And to whom does it report? | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8927 Registered: 4-1997 |
Maybe we can sell the rights to fabricate it?  | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 668 Registered: 5-2004  |
I'm curious if the town has to insure things like this, as a homeowner would insure their own "aluable articles"? If so, I wonder what value we are insuring and what the premium is, etc. | ||
| Crazy_quilter Citizen Username: Crazy_quilter Post Number: 226 Registered: 2-2005 |
let's put it on eBay! (pick up only) | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 120 Registered: 2-2006 |
I asked just this question and related ones previously, Pdg. It is wise to insure valuable art, always. If the BOT did not insure it, they would be assuming potentially even greater risk in replacement costs, possibly even in repair costs. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 496 Registered: 6-2005 |
I thought Ms. Arnedt mentioned insurance at the BOT meeting (I'll have to review the video again! ugh!), but as I think about it, as a publically owned asset, isn't the village responsible for it and shouldn't the village contract for it? I am really confused by who's running this project, and who has the reins. It all seems very sloppy to me. Also, Ms. Arnedt said that the committee, the village (who?), and the Tony Smith estate decided where it should be installed. I wonder if Tony Smith would have envisioned a piece like this installed in a cramped spot by the station, out of scale with its surroundings. I wonder if any minimalist art critics or historians were consulted on the location by the committee. | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 670 Registered: 5-2004 |
JayJay, apparently they did some surveys including counting pedestrians/car traffic. From what I understand the primary goal was maximizing the number of people who would (have to) see it. | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 1425 Registered: 3-2002 |
PDG, if true, what you say is appalling. I've always been given the impression that the siting was done with an eye to art and artistic impact. If this statue is as big a tourist draw as Calabrese seems to think it is, then the hordes of visitors will be willing to go an extra few blocks to see it. Actually, wasn't one of the big arguments that it had to be at that location to allow use of the grant money? Now that the grant money is out of the picture, would it be possible to make sure that we have the best site if this project is to go forward? | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3588 Registered: 5-2001 |
Susan, I think you've hit upon the future of South Orange - Tony Smith sculpture tourism. With the hoardes of people to be soon arriving, we will need: - Guided tours of the Tony Smith Sculpture - Helicopter rides over the Tony Smith sculpture - a Tony Smith sculpture Museum - T-Shirt stores selling shirts saying "My parents wanted a modern library and paved roads, but all I got was this lousy sculpture" - Souvenir stands selling snow globes of the Tony Smith Sculpture Now, I'm horribly concerned about where the buses filled with tourists are going to park. Oh my....  | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4405 Registered: 1-2004 |
MHD You seem to have forgotten something! The guided bus tours past his home! | ||
| vermontgolfer Supporter Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 359 Registered: 12-2002 |
I'm sitting here in 'tax hell' and decided to take a break and catch up here. MHD, that last post was one of your better ones. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3595 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thanks, VG. Although, I actually thought THIS post of mine was funnier. | ||
| vermontgolfer Supporter Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 360 Registered: 12-2002 |
Yes, you'll see, I did send you a message about that one. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 124 Registered: 2-2006 |
Thanks for the laughs, MHD. How could we stand it all without comic relief? | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 4407 Registered: 1-2004 |
MHD I missed that post you linked to! I think you should go to Heres2thearts Monday night and do stand up! |
