| Author | Message | ||
     Dave -agent of MOL Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 5418 Registered: 4-1998  |
I think Fred reads MOL every day. I think Ian is on about every other day, but people say he never blinks when he's reading, so that probably puts him on about the same level as Fred. The jury's out on Ken Pettis, but rumor has it he prints every post Sbenois makes and keeps it in a bound volume. David Huemer is still trying to post by using a pay phone. I told him it won't work, but he's convinced. | ||
| joeltfk Citizen Username: Joeltfk Post Number: 120 Registered: 8-2001  |
I don't have time to follow local politics closely, but I have shared some words with Vic, and he seems like a great person and has a background in exactly what it takes to be a good mayor. Plus he's a true Democrat. What I mean by that is I get the strong sense that Fred is a Democrat because that's the only way he could get elected in Maplewood. I've asked him questions about the Boy Scouts national homophobia and he seemed to dodge the issue. Also, he showed up at Columbia when all of those right-wing wackos were there singing carols. A more responsible public official would have stayed away so as not to draw attention. I'm sure he's a well-meaning man, but there's just something slimy about his ambition and his right-leaning style that compels me to support DeLuca over him. I also like and trust David Huemer (how could you not trust a grown man in braces), and it's clear where he stands. If you're not voting for DeLuca because he lost an election previously, then I'm sure you would have felt the same way about Abraham Lincoln (or Reagan or GWB if you're of a mind they were good Presidents) who also lost previous elections. Many of them, in fact. I'm not comparing DeLuca to Lincoln (so let's not go there), but when there's a one-issue election, it doesn't always mean the best man wins the race. I know Fred has a lot of local support and a history of being involved in race relations, but this is the impression he gives me. Sorry! | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 13287 Registered: 10-2001  |
Mr. Pettis must be smiling big time now that Comcast has WGN. | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 3133 Registered: 5-2001 |
You say "The only reason for our property values increasing was the Mid Town Direct!" and maybe if you hold your breath and stamp your feet it will be true. Meanwhile, there was a nationwide housing boom, interest rates were at historical lows, M/SO had a major media push in its favor, and Midtown Direct stop East Orange is still a dump. | ||
| Maple Man Citizen Username: Mapleman Post Number: 506 Registered: 6-2004  |
why is anyone raising a fuss over bike helmet laws in Maplewood? New Jersey law already states that anyone under the age of fourteen riding a bike, even as a passenger, must wear a helmet. | ||
| Strawman Supporter Username: Strawberry Post Number: 4602 Registered: 10-2001 |
Ok you want to compare Deluca and Fred.. Fred is born and bred in Maplewood and a graduate of CHS. I believe he finished at the top of his class. He's Ivy league educated and a brilliant lawyer. His kids also graduated from CHS. Vic is a college drop out who moved here from Newark 6 yrs ago after failing to get into politics there. His resume is questionable and to my knowledge really hasn't accomplished much professionally. (He's certainly not on par with Fred anyway) This is a no brainer folks.. | ||
| joeltfk Citizen Username: Joeltfk Post Number: 121 Registered: 8-2001 |
Your educational elitism notwithstanding, Straw, I don't think YOUR endorsement of Fred does your candidate much good, given your unenviable MOL track record for common sense and civility. | ||
| Fruitcake Citizen Username: Fruitcake Post Number: 198 Registered: 9-2003 |
I doubt anybody's MOL endorsement matters, Joel. Do you think there are any undecided voters anywhere near this discussion? | ||
| joeltfk Citizen Username: Joeltfk Post Number: 122 Registered: 8-2001 |
To tell you the truth, I realize my support of DeLuca over someone like Profeta is based on instinct and impression over evidence, but I'm instantly suspicious of ANYONE I learn Straw is supporting in earnest, given his perspective. The same goes for anyone supported by George ("Scalia and Thomas are my two favorite Justices") Bush. I think all MOLers are opinionated, but some of us *try* to be open-minded as well. At least in the begining. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 5672 Registered: 1-2003  |
There are. I'm listening. | ||
| Dave -agent of MOL Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 5422 Registered: 4-1998 |
Also, readers outnumber posters by an 8:1 ratio based on 3 years of stats. This ratio also conforms to findings on other online communities. I call it the Online Octave. No one else does, though. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 780 Registered: 3-2003 |
So Dave - AOC Are we posters like, editorial writers? and the readers are using our opinions to form their own judgements? | ||
| Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 1166 Registered: 9-2003  |
I have no interest in the candidates views on national political matters. Not interested in their views on the war, or social security. In fact, I wish this level of government wasn't ltd to party labels at all. For local politics I vote without regard to party. I do have a great interest in their views on immediately local matters. How are these likely to be presented? Debates? MOL? What's the history on this? I've been here about 2 years so am not that aware of the forum. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7764 Registered: 5-2001 |
Usually revisionist history doesn't come out for at least ten years. As respects Vic it looks like that has been brought down to less than two years.  Vic was the one who finally attacked Springfield Avenue, the third rail of Maplewood politics, and put through a $10,000,000 bond issue for the improvements. During his time in office the economic development plan was often referred to "if we build it they will come", or in other words wait and see. Now that the new TC has developed a reasonably coherent economic development plan, former Mayor De Luca seems to oppose just about everything they try. Sour grapes or politics? I really don't know. Again Mr. DeLuca was the driving force behind the reval, in the first year of what has become a major runup of real estate values and then mismanaged it. Over 500 homeowners participated in the assessor review process. The next year MW lost $5,000,000 in assessed value, I think because of succesful tax appeals at the country tax board. I wouldn't even go into the problems with the police that turned the MPD into a revolving door and the silly PC stuff like the bike helmet ordinance he didn't support. I respect Vic for trying and like him personally. However, I don't think putting him back on the TC is the right thing for Maplewood at this time. Sbenois, the Ten Best Places to Live article came out last year, after Vic was no longer in office. A little birdy told me that the main person behind that was LydiaL and maybe the CCR. | ||
| jem Citizen Username: Jem Post Number: 1186 Registered: 5-2001 |
The Ten Best Places article came out in 2002. | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 13288 Registered: 10-2001 |
November 2002 /discus/messages/129/13153.html?1037767113 | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7765 Registered: 5-2001 |
OK, I blew that one. Time really flies here in Maplewood. Still, I think the people who brought Maplewood to the attention of the magazine, weren't in government. | ||
| sbenois Supporter Username: Sbenois Post Number: 13289 Registered: 10-2001 |
Gets back to my point: what's more important, getting in the magazine, or being attractive enough as a community be in the magazine? | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7767 Registered: 5-2001 |
S, getting the article published was done by people outside of government and people the then Mayor was in opposistion to. However, since it was on his watch I don't blame him for taking credit for it. Joel, Fred Profeta showed up at CHS to give interviews against the protest, not to support the protest. As posted above Mayor Profeta organized a celebration of the NJ Domestic Partnersip Act. Hardly the act of a homophobe. | ||
| Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 1768 Registered: 7-2001  |
Boy this thread makes me long for the 2008 Presdiential election!  |
