Actually, I was going to call this post something like "Why Vote?" but the TV is on and the Uncle's A.D.D. is kicking up.
So, why vote?
After all, Crouse and Jackson are running unopposed for two village trustee seats.
Well, for one thing, if you think Crouse is doing a good job and that Jackson is a good choice, then vote to tell them so.
And, if you are undecided about one or both of them, by voting, you say that you are interested enough to get your tushy down to the polls, and that will let them know that you are out there and that you matter.
And, if you think that Crouse is awful, terrible and a blight - or that Jackson is the worst choice since any given year of American Idol - then vote for one and not the other and send that message.
And, if you think that they are both commie, homo, terrorists, then go into the booth, don't pull either lever and open the booth. That counts too.
But if you don't show up at all, then the only message that you are sending is that you don't give a crow's heinie; that what your government does is of absolutely no interest to you.
And that's a remarkably dumb message to send.
Whether (or not) Report
Tuesday, March 18th:
Low chance of crowds, expect heavy excuses, chance of participation 20%.
The voting is from noon 'til 9 PM, at Village Hall (above the Highland Mills Fire House) this Tuesday, March 18.
Don't blow it.
43 comments:
I think that there is a threat of a write in campaign to get Ralph's lying cronies into office.
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Express-mailed my ballot in yesterday.
I can see frustration and anxiety, and have shared some of those feelings all week. We are facing changes and uncertainties no matter what. But I still believe in these candidates, and these plans, over the alternatives. I'm praying for Woodbury, whatever happens... one of the few things I should know a little about, seminary and all. :P
I've backed off a bit lately, don't see any point arguing things to death, though there were a few concerns raised on the last thread I wanted to gently clarify there.
Good luck, to everyone... hope we get more voters than that spammer that just popped in. :P
Forget about Ralph and his cronies. They have no power over the people, they are not gods and certainly don't represent all the residents of Woodbury.
Step out of the box, shake it off, think positive.
Vote today between the hours of 12 and 9, pull both levers and support the candidates who have upfront and forward. We may not agree 100% with their actions or methods but they came up to the plate and made a commitment to do the right thing.
Yes- polls don't open till noon... a few people seem to have found this confusing, understandibly.
Besides voting, it is also one's responsibility to question your elected officials--with respect, not the game playing that Burke, Carol Mulooley, Siebold and their cronies engage in-- about their decisions.
Instead of accepting what others tell you, speak to these officials yourself and get answers that have not been slanted or politicalized.
Example--- the previous blog to this one about boredom, near the bottom; someone explained the misstatements about the "hastily called regularly schedule Town Board meeting" and another person responded about why didn't the Board wait until a regular meeting to decide? Once again, that person was fooled and only saw the word "hastily" --exactly what the trickster hoped to do. It was a regular meeting ---dah--- that the Board always held on the first Thursday of the month.
Actually, if that Board had been playing games, it would have cancelled the regular meeting and voted on WP3 AFTER the election. Instead they went ahead with their regular meeting and told the public where they stood before the election which took guts. The lying flier that was distributed right before the 2005 election did its job--it misled and confused people, letting Burke win by a small margin.
Proof? The same technique was used in this last election by the same people and they won again--by a close margin.
So instead of listening to other's people's views of how someone is doing, speak to them directly and form your own opinion. It is better than letting someone else think for you.
Agreed- representative democracy doesn't work if we let someone else MISrepresent the facts to trick us!
Points for comparison:
Group A supports rezoning the two largest open tracts of land in town to meet our unique situation, with the understanding Woodbury receives open space and other benefits. They have explained their reasons for this openly and consistantly.
Group B wants to block all development, has proposed legally questionable moratoriums and zoning practices to do this, and seems to have no comprehensive growth plan. They defend their arguments with repeated misrepresentations of the facts.
~~~
Group A discovered a problem regarding the water tower, realized the previous administration had not taken action in time to give us a chance to fight it, and tried to negotiate a crappy situation.
Sitting Supervisor B discovered this situation a year earlier, and through incompetence or political motives sat on it, after sending out one simple warning. When the situation reemerged, he wrote an editorial trying to shift all the blame off of himself.
~~~
This past fall, two groups committed to run a clean election.
One did, and lost.
One won by a narrow margin after a blatantly untrue flier with their name on it. Several people, confirmed, in writing that it affected their votes. All three officials have refused further comment or any signs of remorse for this fact. One wrote a letter claiming it does not matter- after running a campaign letter sharply criticizing people who are "enemies of democracy."
Tell me, which of these groups are most likely to listen to ALL citizen's concerns, even where they disagree? Which do we want deciding Woodbury's future?
What is Woodbury's unique situation that requires rezoning for sometimes triple the amount of homes? At what meeting did you hear a group of people condemn ALL development? Some people need to see all sides of an argument before jumping to one side of the fence. And I think the rumors of a write-in have been spread by the opposition. Prove me wrong.
I'm waiting for the village board to appprove the Legacy Ridge developement...and then another Article 78 by the impacted citizens of Woodbury/Cornwall.......See you in court !! The only winners in this Town/Village are the lawyers who love our situation and are making a fortune off it!! Our village officials should wise up and deny the project and let the developer build according to the zoning that is in place for that land !!
Our unique situation is that we have a neighboring community, Kiryas Joel, whose Mayor has said "We are willing to discuss which parts of Woodbury we take." as if that was friendly negotiation.
That same mayor stepped in to influence the internal vote in Woodbury on forming a village.
Towns and villages should be free to make decisions on development based on the particulars of the project and the needs of the community, not how it will effect any future annexation battle. However we are not lucky enough to be in that position.
We must do what we can to influence the state legislature to change annexation law so that municipalities do not have that threat figuring into what should be straight-forward internal decisions such as zoning and development.
Until then, we have to take external factors into account when making internal choices.
Is there any lobbying going on in the state at this time?
Some, not enough.
"We are willing to discuss which parts of Woodbury we should take?"
Who, when, and where did the kj mayor say this too? And this is a reason to let a builder BLACKMAIL a town. We should pick the lesser of two evils. This is leadership. This is all smoke and mirrors and a few people laughed all the way to their safty deposit boxes.
As far as law suits, Woodbury residents don't have to worry about being sued because Mr Brodsky picks up the tab!
Seems to me, some of the people in favor of 481 homes (instead of a 150 homes) sold their homes for more than market value and are either renting in Woodbury or left town. Or some own a business and just making money. THATS LIFE IN WOODBURY !!!
From the sound of things, while absentees are still incoming, Rich and Neil appear to have a comfortable victory of a few hundred votes (only two write-ins, so far). It will be interesting to see if people chose to cast protest no-votes, haven't heard the total count yet.
I would like to sincerely thank those who took the trouble to turn out, and congratulate Rich and Neil.
At the same time, we must acknowledge the low numbers. It might be partially expected with no opposition, but I also believe it isn't something to be taken lightly. While this blog is hardly the voice of the entire town, I can understand how people might be confused, frustrated or discouraged at this point.
We knew this wasn't going to be an easy transition. I can't speak for the candidates, but they admitted, when running that they were hardly veteran public servants, but were committed to doing a careful, open and honest job- in what has lived up to expectations as a confusing and uncertain transition into a village. I believe they have worked hard and accomplished many unsung deeds- but that reaching out to the community's concerns and critiques remains vital.
I think education/communication with the public is a key challenge. We have a few people trying to staff what has become our second government, and it remains difficult to find more willing to suffer the sting of public office.
People are busy, and communication, especially on issues surrounding the 5 Laws, development and annexation continue to be particularly difficult. For my part, I see this as partly because of legal risks/limits on certain discussions (past communities have been sued, over certain public discussions relating to annexation, etc).
We can keep trying, however. Someone challenged me today to "look at the other side," and see across the fence. I admit to finding that difficult, given the continued unfair tactics of a certain circle- but I do not believe that circle necessarily represents all voices. As I spoke in January, I believe there are important things to be heard across divides- if at least some of us can agree on fair standards.
In hearing many voices this week, I've seen people who feel the town was intimidated, manipulated or misled. However, the events leading up to the 5 laws and cluster plans have a far more complex history than Brodsky's famous "threat." I know, because I was there. As Jonathan noted, the issues here are complex; while we MUST be very careful of how we discuss certain issues in this public board, it is my hope that this place, as well as various personal communications can bridge, or at least build communication across some divides.
For my part, spent 3 hours last night re-reading the final environmental statement for Legacy (which is still pending final approval). I would welcome further discussion on specific aspects here. I'm the last person who wants to see this rushed through- and have been checking and cross-checking certain environmental protections with people. If there's anyway I can help educate, or keep people informed of things (including further refinements/adjustments which often happen after a basic approval), please inform me.
We may not agree on everything, but it is my hope that at least some voices of reason, and of peace can begin to bring us together in Woodbury.
I don't see this victory as a mandate, but a call for an olive branch, for those of us who stand for firm principals. That is my pledge, to any who would accept it. To listen, and try to learn together.
I believe, by the way the Jonathan was referring to a statement witnessed in a media-free, but non-confidential meeting attended by Sheila as well as the Supervisor and Mayor of Monroe, and Supervisor of Blooming Grove in 2004-5 (I don't know the exact date, but can check).
As I understand it, Eddie Diana was convening these persons with KJ's mayor as an attempt at "mediation"- though those comments obviously ended that pretty fast. The meeting wasn't confidential, and the quote got back to people in the various communities.
Jonathan, or others might be able to verify or add more detail here.
The unofficial election results seem to be 234 votes each for Crouse and Jackson with one write in vote each for Sheila Conroy and Richie Colone (spelling correction requested).
Wow, Ralph really orchestrated a massive write-in campaign! Where do you get your "facts"? How many people leave comments on this blog? Five?
How many? Well, there's you...
Though, you don't actually read the blog, do you? If you did you would have read this sentence in "If I were Lord of the Ralphlings" :"And if I found out that 200 or more folks had voted I would slink away into the darkness and wait for another day to strike."
And it's a fact that a Ralphling checked the voter turnout before holding back on the write-in campaign? There's more paranoia than fact circulating in Woodbury. I think the low voter turnout speaks volumes; we need to listen.
Good luck with listening. You certainly can't read.
we can read, Your are not comprehending especially when its criticism against you.
Seems like some people will listen and read and believe only what they want to believe.
Uncle Betty never claimed there was a direct rumor- just that it was a likely strategy.
Someone else claimed that in the beginning of this post.
How many people voted in the election?
I don't think the vote turnout was low. Look at Chester, their numbers were something like 53 and 49. When two people who were running unopposed turned out over 200 people, that's a good number. Much higher turnout would have counted had the need arised.
The results were posted in the record, 234 Jackson, 234 Crouse, but how many people voted in total???
Check the Orange County website and hyperlink to the Board of Elections. They will eventually have that info on the site.
Thanks!
8 out of 10 women have damaged hair, where do you come up with this bullsh-t, please get a life.
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The Village of Chester is MUCH smaller than the Village of Woodbury.
Who are you fooling.
The numbers were relatively middle to high end, according the paper here:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=NEWS04
'Course that doesn't include factors like total population and if it was a contested election in each Village.
My point to the Village of Chester being much smaller is the Village of Chester has only 1,000 registered voters so it's not eqivalant to Woodbury by no means. Our low voter turnout is because nobody gives a shit.
Most do not even know who is on the Village Board.
Most people you talk to wishes the Village would just go away. Well people you voted for it now live with the consequences!
You got one part right and another part wrong.
Yes Ralph and his gang are up to something
No it was not a write in campaign but it is a petition to to dissolve the village.
How's that for fun? the very people that fought to get a village are now trying to get rid of the village?
I wounder how the people will swallow that one?
Oh of course. The village was proposed because little Ralphie had no control of the town so he was gonna create his own little Carusoville so he could be the mayor. That did not work out but sadly he does now control the town so he does not need the village. So now it can be abolished since it stands in the way of complete power for the town govt he controls (i.e. zoning, planning, etc). Sad how one man can use a whole community as pawns in his little perverted power grab.
Enough people have seen how Ralph and his gophers work...they want dirty politics, they'll get it.
Much as I love throwing out the snarky comments, I'm trying to be a little more positive at the moment.
Still, the hypocrisy of dissolving a government you argued was absolutely neccessary, but you couldn't get control of or get it to do any of the things you promised it would is painfully obvious.
I pray it isn't missed by the rest of Woodbury, especially in light of the bull (there's nothing else to call it) pulled last fall.
Kieran, Did you know that someone wrote-in your Mom as a trustee? Now people appreciate her!!!!
Too little too late, eh?
I heard. There were, in all fairness always a few hard-core folks out there who refused to give their signs back after '05. :P
While I can't speak for her, I'm sure the gesture was appreciated. I still see the work she (and many others) are doing to still be of the utmost importance- helping out, as asked to make sure development conforms to strict environmental and municipal standards.
I think its vital we have people, at all levels of government working on that... not just during initial approvals, but in the years after to make sure things are working.
Yes It is vital that we have good people working at all levels of government, even administrative positions.
Now if we could only get rid of Mizz Schizo....
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