[RP TownTalk] Decorum

Thu Jun 16 15:46:52 UTC 2016

Hi Maureen

The onus is on every citizen who votes to educate themselves on issues.  I made it as easy as possible through my ‘long’ posts.  There are about as many people subscribed to this list as who turns out for an election so it is as good of a forum as any.

If the Patch was still around you can be assured they would have written numerous articles on this, but they aren’t.  If the Gazette was still around you can be assured they would have written articles on what is going on in town, but they aren’t.  We are left with the Post and it takes a Councilmember being convicted on multiple felonies to get any print with them whatsoever and then only because the State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks sent out a Press Release.

I am using the tools I have.  The very interesting thing is I am staring at the Statue of Liberty as I write this and reminded that many people have died and continue to die to protect democracy as we know it.  Freedom to state opinions, no matter how uncomfortable, is part of that bedrock.

And again, I challenge you and the others trying to tell me to go away,  to instead debate the facts I brought up if you feel the need to defend the Mayor and Council.  Or ask them to.

I catch them acting in direct violation of the law and the response I am given is ‘shut up and go away.’  How is that acceptable?  Every elected official takes an oath of office to act within the law without partiality or prejudice and when caught red handed violating that oath instead of holding them accountable the whistleblower is attacked.

Part of the social contract in a democracy is that the public hold elected officials accountable for actions and misdeeds.
JWE

From: Maureen Farrington [mailto:maureen.farrington at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2016 11:32 AM
To: Jonathan Ebbeler <jebbeler at efusionconsulting.com>
Cc: Liz Bolin <lizbolin at gmail.com>; TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Decorum

With all due respect, Jonathan, why is the onus on others to take your argument to the council meetings?  You are taking the time to educate, but it isn't realistic to expect others to take up your burden based on town talk essays.

On Thu, Jun 16, 2016 at 11:19 AM, Jonathan Ebbeler <jebbeler at efusionconsulting.com<mailto:jebbeler at efusionconsulting.com>> wrote:
Liz –

I patently disagree with your sentiments.  I receive numerous emails offline from people supporting my efforts who have no interest in jumping in the fray, even if to say ‘me too’ or ‘+1’.  For someone that is tuning my message out you seem to be pretty aggressively trying to shut me up.  Odd.

Why don’t you ask the Mayor and Council to actually answer the questions posed – or don’t you and others feel it is appropriate that information be shared?  I hope you realize, in the majority of Council meetings the information is not on the record either and that is typically where Vernon discloses information or is asked.  Go look for meeting minutes for Worksessions.  And it appears my message, while tuned out by some, has been understood by others who have been at meetings and have asked questions.

Regardless, I am not posting to win friends and that is fine you are tuning me out, we don’t know each other.  You may find this off-putting but ultimately it doesn’t matter does it?  You have not suggested anything other than I should voice this in meetings – something I have expressed is an impossibility.  This is going to continue.

It is fine that you and others will turn a blind eye to the law.  Keep in mind it was one of my posts that you tuned out that reminded the Mayor and Council they were violating the law by trying to award a grant to Ernie’s Lock at the Council meeting.  What was their response?  To change the law that night with no prior notice or deliberation.  When the law becomes a burden, don’t worry we will just change it so that previously illegal actions are now at least mostly legal and we only did so because we were called out on it.  If that is an example of good government in your mind so be it, to me it represents the quintessence of poorly behaving elected officials.  Keep in mind these were not people naïve to the law, they all voted for it originally.  What they did do that night was finally admit that they just killed $1mil in economic development.  Instead of asking me to shut up why don’t you ask the Mayor and Council about that?

We pass laws and legislation so we all understand the rules of engagement.  How do you defend the actions of a body that when they are caught acting illegally, play dumb, and ultimately change those rules ad hoc with zero prior notification to the public.  On top of that they refuse to engage or answer questions that are backed up by evidence.  Our current Council represents what we should not want in a democracy.

JWE

From: Liz Bolin [mailto:lizbolin at gmail.com<mailto:lizbolin at gmail.com>]
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2016 10:52 AM
To: Jonathan Ebbeler <jebbeler at efusionconsulting.com<mailto:jebbeler at efusionconsulting.com>>; TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org<mailto:towntalk at riverdale-park.org>>
Subject: RE: [RP TownTalk] Decorum

Jonathan, I find it off-putting that many (very possibly valid) questions are put forth in a forum that is limited access....in that, many of the town citizens likely don't access this site or email list due to language barriers, having the proper technology at home, etc.  Therefore, I support these discussions in a more inclusive forum.  Also, as Heather said, this is not part of the record of our governance.

It's not that you are not asking and answering questions, good ones at times.  The venue and approach strikes me as exclusive and contrary to our values as a government.

If you work out of state, and yet still want to positively influence your town government, perhaps it is time for you to find a more effective method.  What you are doing is obviously not working.

That said, I support your right to continue to post here on whatever topic is allowed by the moderator.  Just know that I've effectively tuned most of what you post out, because I feel there is already a channel for you to handle your questions.

But, thanks for asking!

Liz

________________________________
From: jebbeler at efusionconsulting.com<mailto:jebbeler at efusionconsulting.com>
To: TownTalk at riverdale-park.org<mailto:TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:38:33 +0000
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Decorum
Allison/Heather/Liz

How is it passive aggressive to ask direct questions backed up with a plethora of data?  I am using the means I have available to me.  Again if you or anyone cares to debate the facts please present your argument.  Telling me to shut up and go away because I present issues, topics, etc. that are uncomfortable to deal with is anti-democratic.

From what I have been told Vernon actually had quite the hand in creating this list serve for this EXACT purpose back when he was trying to take former Mayor Guy Tiberio down over the lack of open and transparent government via the Field of Dreams.  That predates me so I will let Vernon opine in.

How do you presume I should go to meetings and ask questions?  As I have stated numerous times, I work out of state.  I am in Maryland maybe a handful of days a month currently.  You may all grow tiresome of tone, tenor, the questions etc. because I get it – it is much easier to ignore the issues vs. asking elected officials to actually answer questions asked.

I ask all of you – name a single time, one single time in which I did not in five years answer any questions posed to me.  The double standard is ridiculous.

JWE

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