file photo Boyd Loving
Civility in our public discourse or Silencing Dissent
Friends / Colleagues —
I am writing to invite you to a meeting to discuss the need for more civility in our public discourse. The meeting will be Monday, November 24 at 7:30pm in Village Hall.
Specifically, we would like to begin a community-wide conversation about ways in which we can elevate public discourse and improve the way in which people publicly treat each other … whether it be at a Council meeting … on a ball field … in an online discussion … or anywhere else.
Joining me to lead this informal meeting will be Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck, Rev. Jan Philips and Rabbi David Fine.
Please let me know if you can join us and if you think someone else should be invited, too. In fact, please share this invitation with those who you think should attend, but please keep me posted so that I can keep track of those planning to attend.
Thanks very much.
Paul
Paul Aronsohn, Mayor
@paularonsohn
I can say with great confidence that you will not see any of these comments on the official Paul Aronsohn web site.
The public is invited. That’s what it says on the Ridgewood web page.
The only problem is, gee whiz, he didn’t let us know sooner and give it more publicity. But don’t worry guys, I will ask him the appropriate questions and let him know how we feel about speaking before him and them speaking to us in that nasty tone.
I was waiting for my own personal e-mail from our Mayor like the others received. Maybe a robo call not a last minute posting on the Village web site. The E-mails were sent out prior to the web site posting Why?.
Posting on the web-site 3 days before the meeting. Really!
Yeah, right, the public is invited. That is why a private invitation was issued to a select few. That is why Aronsohn stated that invitees needed to let him know so he could keep track of who is coming. The meeting will be a ridiculous sham.
And by the way, having religious leaders run the meeting is offensive to me. You notice that he did not include any religious leader who has spoken out against him at a VC meeting, such as Rev Johnsonn who scolded them for mismanaging Chief Ward and the hiring of the new officers.
And the thing about the invitation being on the web page…..please know that this was a late action taken only after the secrecy of this stupid meeting was made widely known. There was never any intention of informing ALL the citizens.
TRANSPARENCY, more like a brick wall.
Great photo! That is at the Jul 1 reorg meeting.m Lorraine Reynolds is at the podium asking them in very strong terms to make Susan Knudsen the Deputy Mayor, per a long standing tradition that the highest vote getter have this position. Nope, no way. They did not even respond to Lorraine, and of course the Deputy Ego went on to maintain his title with a scratchy unintelligible vote skyped in from a safari with the duke. The people had spoken loudly, they wanted Sedon and Knudsen. And our elected morons ignored us swiftly.
The choice of photo is ironic, it is the Council being as uncivil and obnoxious as ever.
“Can’t we all just get along ” said Rodney King as L.A. was burning.
What’s the point of the meeting if the public is not invited?
Let’s all go and say what is on our minds.
If anytime takes the time to go and gets up the nerve to speak at any council meeting they should be treated with the highest respect regardless of what they say (excepting threats and what is against the law).
That person is concerned, is a concerned citizen, a caring citizen and even if their remarks are expressed crudely the thought and meaning of what concerns them should be sought out and responded to comprehensively and thoughtfully.
Correction to #25: The first date should have been July 9, 2014, the first council meeting after the bizarrely conducted reorganization meeting.
It still amazes me that they went through with that travesty and got away with it.
My attorney and I strongly considered suing and might well have won, but I couldn’t afford it.
Amen # 60
The Council does not agree with #60. They groan whenever someone goes to the MIKE. They grimace when they see certain people show up for a meeting, with notes in hand, fearing what will be said. The mayor regularly tries to dissuade citizens from speaking up. At the most recent meeeting, people from Clinton Ave showed up to speak about their sidewalk controversy. Before the public comments commenced, the Mayor said that he knew a lot of people were there to speak about Clinton Ave but they should hold off until later in the meeting so the council could discuss it first. This puts people in the awkward position of defying him if they go up there to speak. He has no right to intimidate like that, none at all. He should shut up and let anyone who wants to speak have their say, and he should be respectful and grateful for their concern.
This is despicable and disgraceful.
And now they will try to intimidate anyone from speaking unless you go up with words of praise and support. This is total bullshit and against our rights under the constitution.