JUNE 12, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
to the Editor:
The mayor continues to hold civility meetings, the purpose of which is unclear. Now it appears a subject of concern is sports conduct on and off the field.
Is this an appropriate topic for the council to be involved in?
I’ve been in town for 39 years and have attended numerous sporting events. On rare occasions there have been a few angry parents and a coach or two who has been asked to leave the field. Is anyone surprised? Nothing except maybe religion and politics gets people more excited than their kids and sports.
It happens at all levels and everywhere. We are not unique. Problems should be addressed when and where they happen. That being within the sports community.
At the last council meeting, the village manager accused a sitting council member of incivility for asking questions regarding the budget and a recent job hiring. It appears that this word is being used to inhibit the political process.
If asking questions, showing displeasure and disagreeing with the powers that be is considered uncivil, then we all need a civics lesson.
Webster’s 1913 definition of civility is: The state of society in which the relations and duties of the citizen are recognized and obeyed. Based on this definition, civility begins at the top and it is the common man who should be treated in a civil manner.
It is not easy to speak out and those that do should not be intimidated by some arbitrary view of what it means to be civil.
Linda McNamara
Ridgewood
RE: “Is this an appropriate topic for the council to be involved in?”
Sure… dictatorial regimes have the right to be involved in everything.
It’s an appropriate topic if you subscribe to the practice of nanny state government. Pretty soon we’ll be banning 16 oz sugary drinks in the bleachers
Sure 11:13 am now you did it. They are going to read your post and think its a good idea. I just see it now . We the Council of the Village of Rdgewood enact this no 16oz sugary drinks in any bleachers owned but the Village Ordinance to protect our children and because we can.
A benevolent dictatorship is a theoretical form of government in which an authoritarian leader exercises absolute political power over the state but is seen to do so for the benefit of the population as a whole. A benevolent dictator may allow for some democratic decision-making to exist, such as through public referenda or elected representatives with limited power.
Well put Linda! The hypocrisy and duplicity is so bloody obvious, we can come to no other conclusion than that we are having our intelligence grievously insulted.
Correct me if I’m wrong but there’s no way Paulie wins a council position if he runs again, right ?
This whole thing is becoming a joke, when can we be done with these fools? Hopefully this is not uncivil for those of you of political correctness.
WWDD ~ What would Declan do ?
I ask this question again: Who is paying the expenses associated with these meetings?
GREAT LETTER, Linda! You are one million percent correct, so well stated. Thank you for putting into writing what all of us are thinking. Way to go.
These meetings just seem to be an opportunity for the developers to pander to certain councilmen.