| Author | Message | ||
     jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 526 Registered: 6-2005 |
Rastro- Ms. Arnedt made a big deal of the fact that she was a director of polling, or something like that, at CBS and ABC. If that is true, she knows the meaning of the word "poll". If she did not conduct a bona fide poll, then she mislead the pbulic at that 3/13 BOT meeting. If she or the BOT have a poll, let them share it with the public. | ||
| Tracey Randinelli Citizen Username: Traceyr Post Number: 16 Registered: 4-2005 |
Sheena--the SO/M Community Coalition has a list of neighborhood associations and contacts on their web site: http://www.twotowns.org/neighborhood.php Not sure often the list is updated, tho....I've been trying to get our recently-formed neighborhood association listed, but to no avail. | ||
| Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 645 Registered: 4-2005  |
Thanks Ms. Tracey - hope you had fun this weekend  | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3713 Registered: 5-2001  |
Latest stats, in case anyone is interested:  | ||
| vermontgolfer Supporter Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 388 Registered: 12-2002 |
MHD. Loving those graphs and charts, hey!  | ||
| Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 647 Registered: 4-2005 |
MHD - Get out of the house, I'll buy you a latte...  | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3714 Registered: 5-2001 |
LOL. As much as I appreciate you thinking I am spending HOURS on this stuff, the online petition site provides the graphic stats automatically - I just captured the image. The "plot" of the signatures around town is also just a copy/paste to a site that provides that API call to Yahoo maps.  | ||
| vermontgolfer Supporter Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 389 Registered: 12-2002 |
MHD, I'll top the latte, let's make it a beer! | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2697 Registered: 5-2004  |
Jayjay, it is obvious that Ms. Arnedt had no real poll. She conducted a survey among the various groups that she met with, people who were inclined to agree with her position. Not a very scientific poll. | ||
| Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 73 Registered: 5-2005 |
Talk about cheap - the very least MHD deserves is a bottle of champagne! I'll happily pop into Shoprite liquor store and pick one up tomorrow, MHD what's your prefernce, would you like Moet.... what's that? Oh, darn, sorry forgot, Shoprite liquors was demolished, hey, I guess you'll have to stick with the latte or beer - but at least the thought was there, if not the store...... Sorry... | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3715 Registered: 5-2001 |
LOL!!!  Maybe you can just chip in and buy me a new rug at Sayid's rug emporium....uh...never mind. | ||
| Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 75 Registered: 5-2005 |
MHD - how about something for your garden - I hear there might be a second hand gazebo going cheap... | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 717 Registered: 5-2004  |
With a nice, heavy slate roof and lots of intricate metal work - not bad construction. I wish one of our friendly trustees would share with us the installation date, cost of fabrication, site prep and installation, and in particular whose "vision" the gazebo and fountain belonged to! Was it voted on in a BOT and by whom? How long from approval to it being built and installed? I still maintain that it MATTERS! Regardless of how expensive to maintain, dangerous to pedestrians and generally stupid the project ultimately turned out to be. It goes to illustrate a severe lack of sufficient planning and wasted taxpayer dollars in the exact same spot in which they propose a new $410,000 (not including the "gift") improvement! If Tau is planned to be part of the Sloan Street "entrance" to SOPAC, are we to believe that the gazebo and fountain weren't considered within the context of SOPAC? | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3716 Registered: 5-2001 |
PDG - The most amazing part is that at the Feb 27, 2006 Meeting, Bill Calabrese said on the record that the Gazebo was paid for using a BOND (taxpayer dollars). Since it has been installed for less than 10 years, I am quite certain we are STILL paying for that debt and will continue to pay for that debt even when the gazebo is torn out and replaced with the sculpture! | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 718 Registered: 5-2004 |
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| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 529 Registered: 6-2005 |
What was pitiful was how Calabrese went on to lecture that fellow who is a new resident and whose house is close to the Vose pit. The VP talked of his vision for the town. I label it more a nightmare of half started projects, failed developments, fits and starts, etc. He actually thinks he can take credit for increase in home values. Wake up Mr. VP. Any increase was due to mid-town direct. In fact, your failed vision has kept us from realizing more significant gains. People think twice when they look at the downtown. And when they consider the tax burden, which you and your cronies, continue to increase for inane projects like the sculpture. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3717 Registered: 5-2001 |
I particularly liked his line that "People used to laugh at you when you told them you live in South Orange". I hate to admit it, but people (especially in Maplewood) laugh at us once again. | ||
| Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 81 Registered: 5-2005 |
Has anyone actually looked at the comments being left on the petition? http://www.petitiononline.com/SOtaxes/petition.html People are talking from their hearts. No-one is blasting the sculpture, no-one is saying no to Tony Smith, no-one is chastizing the project, but people ARE asking that our tax dollars be used in a more responsible way. They ARE asking that our town be improved, they ARE asking that our schools be improved, they ARE asking that our money be used, at this time, responsibly... There comes a time when people have to stop sitting on the fence and do something... I spoke to a friend yesterday, and the conversation came around to the BOT... I asked if she voted for them, she said "I certainly didn't, I didn't vote." I replied that, so in that case, you voted them in. She got quite vocal and said again, I DIDN'T VOTE! YOU CAN'T BLAME ME FOR THIS!!! My answer was this... You didn't vote.... your vote could have, and would have counted. Your choice of candidate may not have won, but your vote would have counted, your opinion would have counted. You would have done something for your town. Don't you see that your inaction, and the inaction of many others in this town made things the way they are today? We can all change things. Some of us sign petitions, some of the town attended and even speak at town meetings. Maybe our lives can't allow us all to do that, to invest the time and effort, but right now the town is crying out for our help... My friend saw my point. She will be voting in the next election. she will vote because she wants to be heard. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 202 Registered: 2-2006 |
Bravo, Soparents! The abdication of civic duty at the polls can have dire consequences: the undesirable may be realized when nothing opposes it. In the last municpal election in SO, roughly 75% of residents abdicated. Iraq puts us to shame. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 3172 Registered: 9-2003 |
Well done, my dear, well done!! We should put your words in a full-page ad! | ||
| Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 82 Registered: 5-2005 |
Feel free SoOrLady, At times, all it takes is one voice to stir up a whole choir..... | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 205 Registered: 2-2006 |
Will someone please post the petition link again? It needs to be easy for people to find. Maybe put it above all of the topics in a banner or something, Dave? | ||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 3403 Registered: 11-2001  |
Sure, no problem. http://www.petitiononline.com/SOtaxes/petition.html | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 22878 Registered: 6-2001  |
Actually, it takes more than a voice. It takes action. Putting yourself on the line by signing a petition, by voting, by acting. The online petition will have no effect. If we are serious we need to organize a recall and get the required signatures. It probably would not be enforced before the next election (and I believe Bill has publicly commented that he will not run), but it would certainly send a message. I will devote two evenings per week and alternating weekends, unless I need to do more. Anyone else? | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 3173 Registered: 9-2003 |
bets - a recall would mean a special election and that would cost the town in the area of $25,000 and it would take about 6 months to pull off. By that time we've spent out energies to recall Bill, Alan & Art rather than focusing on a positive campaign to wake the town from their slumber of complacency and getting people to use their votes. We need to find dedicated, viable candidates for the next election and put our money, time and energies into getting them into office. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 22879 Registered: 6-2001 |
We need to "smack silly" the population. If we make them aware with a recall petition I think they will pay attention at election time. Hopefully. | ||
| Lucy Supporter Username: Lucy Post Number: 3310 Registered: 5-2005  |
Bets Amen! | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3763 Registered: 5-2001 |
SOParents - you are absolutely right. As the Admin of the petition, I have the ability to delete inappropriate comments, and I am glad to say I have not had to do that at all. The vast majority of the comments have been logical and articulate. P.S. Bets - I sent you an email | ||
| Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 648 Registered: 4-2005 |
Whoo-hoo - petition is looking good. The Community Editor for the Setonian (SHU Newspaper) did a story on it this week as well. It's on the inside of the front cover if you guys would like to pick it up (I'll post it when the link is available). Kristen just informed me that some of the staff on campus who live in South Orange are very interested/disturbed by all of this as well. Go Pirates :-) | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3767 Registered: 5-2001 |
You guys are awesome, Sheena! Thanks for spreading the word. BTW - Did you know there was a Seton HILL University that also has a newspaper called the Setonian: http://blogs.setonhill.edu/Setonian/ I had no idea. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3787 Registered: 5-2001 |
I have updated the graphic to show the first 100 UNIQUE signatures of the petition: http://www.batchgeocode.com/map/?i=4c6cf01097e36a55bb0d4f6061c1d76a We have now exceeded 100 unique addresses, so this will be the last update. However, I still think it VIVIDLY proves the point that there is opposition to spending tax dollars for this sculpture across the ENTIRE TOWN. | ||
| Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 106 Registered: 5-2005 |
Wow MHD, You weren't kidding - I just looked at the graphic and it isn't centred in any one area, it really is across the town! | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 218 Registered: 2-2006 |
Thanks, MHD. Make another with the second hundred. We can still look at the distribution as people continue to sign. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3815 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thought I'd "bump" this to see if anyone else on MOL wants to sign the petition or wants to email it to their friends: http://www.petitiononline.com/SOtaxes/petition.html | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3890 Registered: 5-2001 |
Since the number of signatures still continues to grow, thought I'd bump this again so people can continue to add signatures and/or send the link to their friends.... | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3958 Registered: 5-2001 |
Since the number of signatures still continues to grow, thought I'd bump this again so people can continue to add signatures and/or send the link to their friends.... The comments people are leaving are absolutely incredible! | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 335 Registered: 2-2006 |
So, the online petition is closing in on 250 signatures. Let's see, isn't that more than 10% of people who voted in the last municipal elections? If there were a hard-copy version, it would probably glean three times the number. But an online petition self-selects for the computer literate, generally a more-than-high-school-educated group. How's that for a "new demographic"? I'm sure the new demographic of the petition votes. I'll bet good money that many of them will work vigorously to depose all those who subvert public monies for the pet projects of prevaricating members of the Pierro Foundation board of directors as well. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 1177 Registered: 5-2003 |
But has the BOT seen it? | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 336 Registered: 2-2006 |
They aren't interested, Lizziecat. They are too busy pretending not to notice anything that happens on MOL. They have more important matters to attend to like dabbling in their own self-aggrandising fiefdoms, an unwanted downtown SID, taxing native businesses into the ground while allowing new ones to ride along free with PILOTS. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2938 Registered: 5-2004 |
Perhaps if someone took the petition around to get real signatures, including those people that have signed online, it would have more credence. Plus it would likely garner more signatures than just those who signed online. Though it might be difficult to get all the student signatures soon... |
