“If it be knowledge or wisdom one is seeking, then one had better go direct to the source. And the source is not the scholar or philosopher, not the master, saint, or teacher, but life itself — direct experience. Henry Miller (1891-1980) Preface to ‘The Books in My Life,’ 1952.
The national election takes center stage Tuesday. Just remember — the tracking polls don’t vote — people do. The choice is clear — a Liberal or a Conservative — both presidential candidates promise change and both will have a difficult job before them. Who has the experience to lead our country requires your input.
The local elections are equally important; those that represent us will affect us going forward. Taxes, spending, debt, community, experience, involvement, leadership, accountability — words that are more often then not, just an added adjective, verb or noun in someone’s election time rhetoric.
Success in managing local government begins in understanding the issues outside the charades we observe. The hospital issue has many nuances that are churning behind the scenes. What we may hope or expect, can change. The reopening of a hospital, or its failure, will affect Westwood on many levels going forward and therefore it is a very important issue.
Every year names are put before you with cliché statements attached. Individuals who seek to ‘explore’ efficiency, initiate shared services or expand low cost services; always without providing any basis to believe they know the what, where, when or how to achieve their bantered goals. The fact that two candidates don’t mention the hospital in their introduction mailer only offers insight to their lack of depth in understanding the issues and how they set priorities.
Displayed above are two local (front & back) mailers (click on them to enlarge.) that have been sent to assist residents in making a choice. Your opinion in Westwood is only as valuable as your vote. Consider your choices — consider your vote and VOTE, Tuesday, Nov. 4th.
CONGRATULATIONS to Councilman SCIARA & Councilwoman WANECK on their reelection.
I was enjoying a bite at a local restaurant with some friends who knew our waitress. She told us one of the democrat candidates and his wife was recently asked to leave. They had apparently displayed some aggression toward some other diners with kids and balloons. The details were a little muddled so I won’t repeat them here. Let’s just say we don’t need another ego absorbed politician. We have enough of them already.
Comment by Oldguy — November 2, 2008 @ 7:35 PM
When there was controversy the things that went on were discussed in the papers and in backyards. Now with the working together we don’t know anything besides what’s fed to us, like the old days A green grant that came out of nowhere with conflicting information between what the grant application says and what the mayor says. A lawsuit over the hospital ordinance where others say we are protected but maybe with loopholes. A master plan change to recreation with vague information on what exactly is going to happen in Westvale and its final cost. Alleged state aid and grants reducing our taxes? Reading the locals, these mailers, this blog and other comments and I feel I know less then I use to know.
Comment by Marie — November 2, 2008 @ 10:37 PM
Which democrat was ejected? What’s wrong with the Westvale fields? There great, the kids love them and the parents love them. These green grant monies, nothings free, what strings are attached? How is the taxpayer protected if the fields see more demand? Who’s going to pay for the additional upkeep? Will our kids be the losers with tight budgets? What’s the first thing we neglect when money is tight? Maintenance. There is a lot of gibberish but very little understanding offered on the part of the talkers running for office.
Comment by Nate — November 3, 2008 @ 11:47 AM
Explore more efficient debt vehicles? What, are we looking to spend more money efficiently? What’s going to happen with the new property taxes from the hospital building? Is that spent already that we need to explore debt vehicles? Maybe I’m misunderstanding? Is our fire prevention vehicle idling tax dollars outside a dunkin donuts a debt vehicle or is that a geen initiative filling up on donut frying oil?
Comment by Jerry — November 3, 2008 @ 12:07 PM
There is Ms. Waneck and three other candidates running for office. One Democrat seems to have aggression issues but we can’t tell who. That leaves only one other candidate to vote for. Nothing difficult here, besides with my mind becoming a sieve I doubt I could remember the other two names tomorrow anyway.
I keep reading every week and wonder when we’ll see an update on the status of the hospital ordinance lawsuit. I assume your going through some sort of information gathering process and hope you’ll share it with us. I’d like to know how these people who represent us came to their conclusions.
I also want to say I agree with Marie, there is so much getting along it’s a real gay fiesta. How it it that everyone thinks alike now? Is everyone coasting with their heads in park? Just reading the various issues peppered in your blogs and I can think of some questions I’d like answered. I wish Westwood televised their meetings like other towns or would that just be a bad porno flick exposing king egos with no clothes.
Comment by JimC — November 3, 2008 @ 7:47 PM
A neighbor told me about this blog approximately 8 weeks ago. Every Tuesday I come to work in NY and at 9:30 I have my coffee, read the Wall Street Journal and check this site to see if there’s anything new about Westwood or the hospital I’ve missed. On Friday’s I’ll check the Community online paper.
I’m noting these things to say I try to keep aware of what goes on in the town I live. And I normally don’t take time to write onto a website but your blog affected my vote and my wife’s toward the Council seats. We’re Democrats. We voted for the Republicans.
We voted because you were right, the Democrats didn’t see the issues. They put up two people, like the last couple of years, just to put names on the ballot. Like the Republicans did last year.
I’m not thrilled with Sciara because I don’t think he votes his conscience, though he implies he does. I’ve been told he use to but now votes with the noise lobbying his ear. He went against his word when he voted on that parking platform. He sided with a developer over safety. He belongs to a political organization where municipal employee spouses have the Council people’s ear.
Westwood’s people need representation. They don’t need glad-handlers and that seems to be the evolution of our governance. I don’t like controversy but dialogue requires engaged conversation and I knew more about what was going on when there was. As a previous commenter noted, people were talking about the issues by your aggressive approach to confronting problems. Like this lawsuit, it forced a mental acknowledgement of what goes on in town.
You recognized nuances could make a difference. Under the Kelley rule, those nuances cost taxpayers. What will the nuances overlooked in harmony cost us? I hope some of the Council people read your blog and this comment. I’d like their discussions taken out of closed sessions so that we can hear the thoughts considered in their deliberations. I’d like to see substance over rhetoric. I’d like to know ahead what the options or concerns were in their decisions. I don’t want harmony over transparency.
Thank you.
Comment by Chris — November 5, 2008 @ 11:00 AM
Congrats to J and Cindy!
Comment by Sandy — November 5, 2008 @ 12:02 PM
I too am glad that Cindy won. I think J was lucky the democrats didn’t put up any challenge because his voting opposite his own rehtoric the last election wasn’t good.
Please write about other issues besides the hospital. The hospital is important but there are a lot of things that affect Westwood. This blog shows there are other interests and concerns.
Comment by Anonymous — November 5, 2008 @ 12:11 PM
John and Cindy are both good people. Cindy listens to her head and John listens to his heart. Together they’re a good team.
Comment by Jenny — November 5, 2008 @ 2:54 PM