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<DIV>I second Marc on this. I have been impressed with the communication skills
of the two council members I have contact with, and with Mayor Archer's
outreach. Our council member Alice Ewen Walker, along with Ward
2's <SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">David
Lingua, have been extremely responsive to our questions on any
town matter. Ms. Walker regularly sends emails giving details about
developing issues and follows up those incredibly dry council meetings with
informative notes. Just last week when I mentioned an issue with town
lighting in front of our properties at 6201 and 6205 Natoli Place, both Ms.
Walker and Mayor Archer immediately responded to my concerns, addressing
the problem and prompting former council member Rob Oppenheim to retrieve his
own two-year-old notes that precisely detailed the council's discussion
about the problem in 2007. Mr. Oppenheim's input was very helpful in getting the
matter moving. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Talk
about service!</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">And
it is not like these folks are being paid hefty sums to do this work or that
they wield great power. They are, in my opinion, the Mother Teresa's of
local politics. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">At
some point, the citizens' civic duty must go beyond armchair
participation. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Or
not. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">By
the way, Don (Lynch), I appreciate the info you included about on The Pink
House: <STRONG><EM><FONT face=Verdana>Dr. S. M. McMillan was elected as the
first Mayor, his house is across from Mable Munch Park.
</FONT><BR></EM></STRONG></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Also,
we still have two apartments available for rent, a one-bedroom and a furnished
two-bedroom, both in The Brick House. And three other one-bedroom
apartments in the fashionable Eastport section of Annapolis. Go to <A
href="http://www.YorkeRents.com">www.YorkeRents.com</A> or call 301-502-1243
for more information.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><STRONG><EM> </DIV></EM></STRONG></SPAN>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Best,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Jeffrey
Yorke</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Yorke
Partners</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Natoli
Place</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">301-502-1243</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><A
href="http://www.YorkeRents.com">www.YorkeRents.com</A></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> </DIV></SPAN>
<DIV><SPAN
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 4/13/2009 10:14:52 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
mmolino54@hotmail.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Verdana color=#000000 size=2>I
meant to copy my reply to Don to the whole list because I'm curious as to how
others feel about their representatives, the opportunities to be informed and
involved, and the overall level of citizen interest and participation in
Riverdale Park.<BR>-Marc<BR><BR>
<HR id=stopSpelling>
From: mmolino54@hotmail.com<BR>To: dlynch@garretroomstudios.com<BR>Subject:
RE: [RP TownTalk] A view from the Ravenswood nest<BR>Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009
08:36:45 -0400<BR><BR>
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Don,<BR>I've lived in Riverdale Park for about 8 years now and have actually
been impressed with the degree to which RP citizens are invited and welcome to
participate in local government. I think we do a disservice to our present and
former mayors and councilmembers to portray them as some sort of cabal acting
independently of the citizens needs and wishes. Since I've been here in Ward
2, my council members have held open houses and/or informal gatherings at
their homes to seek feedback, talked to me in person (as well as in person and
by e-mail), and frequently attend every public event where they are accessible
and welcome feedback (Riverdale Park Day, the Holiday Festival, the ArtsFest,
etc., etc.).<BR><BR>Sarah mentioned the many meetings that are open to the
public--I think some of these are even available on a cable access channel, as
well. <BR><BR>I'm curious as to how the council members in the past "... would
inform and discuss these issues with the people within their wards", and
whether those methods are still feasible given the present day size of the
wards. I think you've raised some good issues in terms of how council members
gauge and represent the interests of each ward. I don't have a lot of
experience with town politics, but RP actually seems like one of the most
engaged and transparent from what I've seen and heard.<BR><BR>All that being
said, it's the citizens that seem least interested. Whether it's on this
discussion list or at actual council meetings, it's usually the same, small
dedicated handfull of people who are active and involved. Don't get me wrong,
these folks (like yourself) are great, but the majority of the RP citizens are
uninvolved. Is that a matter of interest, time, and/or access? I personally
think it's mostly lack of time and/or interest.<BR><BR>How would you like to
see it change, Don? Now would be a great time to pass these ideas along to
those running for office ; )<BR><BR>-Marc<BR><BR>> From:
dlynch@garretroomstudios.com<BR>> To: TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>>
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:59:05 -0700<BR>> Subject: [RP TownTalk] A view
from the Ravenswood nest<BR>> <BR>> Gone are days.<BR>> <BR>>
Riverdale Park is one of the country's oldest railroad communities,
established in 1887. It was incorporated in 1920. Dr. S. M. McMillan was
elected as the first Mayor, his house is across from Mable Munch Park.<BR>>
<BR>> There was a time when council members were elected by the various
wards within this community with the intent to represent the collective
opinion of the people from their respective wards.<BR>> <BR>> When
issues concerning the town came up, the council members would inform and
discuss these issues with the people within their wards and then report to the
town council the findings of these discussions.<BR>> <BR>> That was then
and where are we today?<BR>> <BR>> >>From issues such as the
Purple Line, art murals to 4+ story apartment buildings being approved within
the historic district of Riverdale Park, are being discussed amongst the
council members without any discussion amongst the wards in this town.<BR>>
<BR>> No local ward meetings, discussions, comments or opinions
requested.<BR>> <BR>> Just six individuals and a Mayor, making it seven
individuals, acting independently of the rest of the town, making decisions
and reporting the results weeks later in a Town Crier, with little additional
information to go along with the decision making process.<BR>> <BR>> Is
this the status quo for Riverdale Park?<BR>> <BR>> Will any council
member begin to take stock in what it means to represent the people of their
ward by keeping them informed with issues that directly affect them?<BR>>
<BR>> Will the mayor make sure that the council members communicate the
important issues to the wards and demand a collective opinion from each
ward?<BR>> <BR>> Will we ever get back to a town where everyone feels
their interests have been heard and weighed against the majority?<BR>>
<BR>> If not, as I say, gone are the days.<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
Don<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
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information about Riverdale Park, visit
http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info<BR><BR>
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