Thursday, May 15

THE TOWN HALL GANG

Anonymous

     I am constantly being accused of being rude, insulting and mean spirited because I point out unflattering things about the town hall gang and some of the people in it. If you look at what has been written you would have to conclude that however unflattering these blog posts may be they are at least factual. This is my response to a rude, insulting and mean spirited comment that was made on the previous post. A post in which I thanked the 169 people who did vote for me in this past election. I'll paste their insensitive comment at the end of my response.

    First of all I have no intention going away. You say that the people of Egremont have spoken and they don't want me. For your information there are 938 registered voters in Egremont of which only 227 voted for Charlie. 169 voted for me and change. For you to say that their vote doesn't count is insulting and shows your ignorance. Then there are the 528 who didn't come out to vote. These people were fine with either candidate otherwise they would have voted; this 528 by default can be added to either count. So we have 755 people who were ok with Charlie being the selectman and 697 were fine with me being the selectman. For you to say that the 227 votes for Charlie expresses the sentiment of the entire town means that you disregard the 711 other people who clearly expressed their opinion. This is the problem with the town hall gang.

    I believe you express town hall gang's sentiment, for all I know you could be one of them. The fact that you regard my concerns as "harassing the town officials" shows that you do not serve all of the people of Egremont. I am a citizen and my concerns deserve the same respect as any other citizen. When I attend a selectman's meeting I am made to feel that I am a nuisance not a citizen. The reason many people don't come out to these meetings is that they are made to feel unwelcome.  This is the problem with the town hall gang.

    For the record I have both a job and a life. Part of my life is keeping up with what goes on in town hall because it affects my life. I feel the people need to know the truth about what goes on in the town hall and I seem to be one of the few who will tell it like it is. You imply that I am not a person with dignity and self respect because I continue to write about my observations and concerns with the town hall gang. The fact that you would rather not hear this rhetoric is irrelevant; there are at least 169 people who do want to hear it. You post often on this site and your opinion is not ignored. If I had your attitude I would delete every one of your posts. However, I respect you enough as a person to allow you to freely express your opinion however much I  may disagree.

    Finally, please stop telling me to go back to Baltimore. I am a Berkshire native, I was born and raised here and I'll probably die here. I spent some time in Baltimore but I chose to come back to my home. However much you may dislike me and my opinion I am still your neighbor and fellow citizen. If you can't treat me with due respect then please just ignore me; but I won't go away.




    This was the comment: "Kevin. Enough is enough. You are not a viable candidate. The people of Egremont have spoken. They do not want you. Now would be the time that a person with dignity and self respect would say to themselves: Okay, I gave it my best shot and they obviously (after 3 lost elections) don't want me. Time to stop harassing the town officials, get a life or a job or both, and move back to Baltimore."

34 comments:

  1. These people evil. !t is just a simple small town election! They need to go to church and pray to the Almighty, begging for forgiveness from their wicked sins and unrighteous ways.

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  2. That's right, Kevin. You are NOT going anywhere! There is always next year! Hit'em again!

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    1. Kevin, Please Please don't give up. We need someone who will stand up for us. Someone who is not afraid to hold their feet to the fire. Someone to keep watch for the little people. I am one of your 167 votes.

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    2. I agree Kevin DO NOT STOP!! This town does need a big change! Spending has gotten out of control and it really needs to stop! We are not a large city we are a small town! I thought their were many stickers out there saying "KEEP EGREMONT SMALL AND BEAUTIFUL" what happened to that and most of all what happened to the peoples right to speak? I am one of those people Kevin speaks of that feel like an ant at a meeting because you meaning selectboard would rather ignore what is really going on and not even hear what I as citizen has to say! This is not fare! I pay a fare amount of taxes in this town and am not pleased to spend more! The old saying is we all have skeletons in our closets and I do hope anyone on the selectboard would not to like theirs revealed! The point is we are all equal! Some of us pay more taxes some less but we are all citizens and should have a RIGHT to speak! I do not think Kevin has said anything that was not true! Sometimes the truth hurts! I could go on endlessly but what would the point be? This town needs to come forward as a whole and each and everyone should have a say! If you are not willing to back up what you talk about to your friends then stop talking about because talk gets you no where an actions will!! Let's stick together people and flush away the bad and bring in the new!

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    3. You know, I think you're mixing two things here. Yes, one of the great things about our town and its government is how we citizens get to voice our opinions. Sometimes a given opinion is in the minority and sometimes it isn't.

      I don't think anyone is saying Kevin should be able to argue his points. What many object to, however, is the manner in which he does so. It is unpleasant and, frankly, counterproductive to his own goals.

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    4. edit: meant to say "I don't think anyone is saying Kevin *shouldn't* be able to argue his points"

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  3. This was the first time I ever saw his name on the ballot

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  4. The basic problem with government in Egremont is the rampant cronyism at town hall. That cronyism has led to a political machine that can turn out enough votes to defeat opposition candidates, and the ability to defeat opponents emboldens the machine leaders to further increase the cronyism. It's a vicious circle that results in half (or more) of the townspeople being excluded from having any influence in what goes on in town. How to break that circle is the challenge facing those of us who see it for what it is.

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    1. The Towns people have never known or understood What The Hell The Town Hall Officials are doing or why they are doing what they do.Don't Stop Good Work Keep it up Informing us.My friends wish you would come to their town.They don't know what the hell is happening there. They will pay!

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  5. Kevin,

    I speak as a fairly neutral fellow town citizen--one who hasn't picked sides and doesn't consider himself to in any particular clique.

    That said, I think a lot of the responsibility for uncivil tones in our town dialogue rests with you. I believe everyone in Egremont has good intentions--yourself and Charlie included. While we may disagree with what is best for our town, that is ultimately what we all want. Over the past few years you have frequently accused the people you disagree with of ill-purposes and stupidity. This has put a cloud over our town and has not served your purpose in the least.

    Yes, there is some unfortunate ill-civility and nastiness being directed at you--but to a large degree this is you reaping what you have sowed. If you would like it to stop, well, join the club! Most of our town is disgusted at the tone of the dialogue.

    My advice to you is rather than declaring victimhood, recognize how your behavior has led to this point. Turn over a new leaf and try treating with respect those you disagree. Do not be surprised when they do not immediately respond in kind--they won't. But either they will come around or they will end up looking like the small town bully that many people view you as.

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    1. Victimhood....Really! Happy Happy, a select few who will bully you and others who are not like minded. Don't quit!!!!!

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    2. Yup, that's what it sounds like to me. Kevin hasn't been particularly nice to people, and people are responding in kind. The only thing worse than the tone Kevin has been taking is proving to be thin-skinned when it comes back at him.

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    3. Welcome to Egremont and we welcome your opinion here on EyeOnEgremont..

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  6. Right on. Talk about rude, how about KZ blogging a picture of Bruce Turner and comparing him to Stalin?

    You keep trumpeting about the voice of the people must be heard, well it was and Charles Flynn won by a 58 vote plurality in a low turnout.

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  7. When is the election I would like to attend. I have not come out in years I know the games they play they are out for themselves. but if we can read about the things and understand what is going on before we vote then maybe this change can be made to happen. thank-you some one is helping me do this

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  8. You know I installed this new blog program that makes your computer go to my blog immediately when you turn it on. Then it won't allow you to turn off your computer or do anything else until you have read every word. I've also installed an upgrade that will only allow you to make comments that are in agreement with the blog post. All opposing comments are immediately scrubbed. Isn't technology great

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  9. Kevin, hope you will keep fighting for the people who are trying to pay attention to what is going in our town government as well as the state and federal government. Unfortunately not enough citizens take the time to look at both sides and make a judgement on the facts instead of the talking points.
    The fact is we would still have certain people at the water dept who were mishandling it if you had not dug into it from the finance committee, which rewarded you by dismissing you.
    It would be nice to see more people get upset at the status quo and get involved themselves in their government instead of berating those that do get involved. What has happened to we the people controlling the government? Apathy.

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  10. Kevin, you claim that you want to help the town by serving and splitting up the "gang" at Town Hall. Once again you have to insult people in order to try and get your point across (if their is one). These people that were elected (unlike you) by their peers, are some of the best people I know. Take a look at what they have done in their respective lives and what they stand for. All are public servant who could've made a lot more money in the public with the skill set that they posses. Yet they have decided to serve all of us and accept all the BS that comes along with it. But you are a different breed man. You are a spiteful, hateful, angry gossip queen that comes across as smug, arrogant, rude and uppity. I support you right to have your opinions, run for office and encourage you to do so if that's what you want. However, as a life long resident, I will do everything in my power to see that you never serve on any board that has even the slightest bit of power or influence. You were not raised her, and do not understand us. You're a big city boy trying to bully people with your horrible comments and opinions. I agree with the previous post that said you reap what you sow. Please stop with all this blogging and painting our beautiful town in a negative light. If you don't like it here then move. You've already tried to change it from within. That didn't work. You've been thrown off one committee and lost two elections. I would hope that you could understand what that means Kevin. The people of Egremont do not want you to represent them.

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    1. Unfortunately you do not have the guts to put you name to your words. At least I have enough confidence in my opinion to put my name to my own words. You speak for yourself not others and your opinion is noted. Perhaps at some point you can man up.

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    2. You seem to be the spiteful, hateful, angry gossip queen that comes across as smug, arrogant, rude and uppity. Just like the others you accuse Kevin of doing the things you are guilty of. I don't know why he even leaves your posts on his blog. I would delete you in a heartbeat. But its not my blog. But I see why you don't give your name.

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    3. You do not speak for All the people of Egremont. That is the problem with the Town Hall .Get off the Big City BS.If your group was so wonderful we wouldn't need a Blog. Your group uses Big City Tactics, they are Big City spenders, out for themselves. Everything they try to put through is Big City 2,500,000 sewer system 2,000,000 Library , 110,0000 to pay the water debt.Every time you turn around they have another Hair brain scheme . 3% CPA tax we'll see. No this group at Town Hall never ever represented me, just their own inflated egos. You don't need to go to the Big City, just go to GB you will see where we are headed. YOU WANT MORE MONEY TO PLAY WITH AND MORE MONEY IS MY MONEY.We are just over 1,200 in this Town there is no need for your kind of endeavors.

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  11. When all commenters have to sign their name, I will too. Til then, I will continue to make known what I know to be the blight of KZ on Egremont.

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  12. I see you are making it personal now, and that's ok. It underscores that like Anon 6:48 said. You are the angry bitter one. I don't allow myself to get into the hate like you. I just put the facts out there. Go to the forum if you want everyone to identify themselves

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  13. Richard, cronyism is appointing friends to political plum jobs, giving out contracts on a no-bid basis to friends. Please advise specific instances of this behavior with our Town government so that I can investigate. Javert.

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    1. Isn't that nepotism or are the terms synonymous

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    2. If it involves family, it is nepotism. If it is friends and business associates, it's cronyism.

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  14. Yeah Kevin, you are all about being positive..... Take a look back at your posts and marvel at all the positivity. Comparing our selectman to Stalin....so positive and mature Kevin.

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    1. You really should check your facts before you post, it will save me the time of having to correct misinformation and you won't have to backpedal. For the record I did not compare Bruce to Stalin, I simply compared his technique of running the meeting to that of communist Russia and I quote "Doesn't this kind of resemble the Politburo in Communist Russia?".

      Then I compared his picture to Stalin's and pointed out an uncanny resemblance, and then suggested they had similar political philosophies; and I quote "Does this picture resemble someone on the BoS? Could they be related? Could one be a reincarnation of the other? They certainly do have identical political philosophies.".

      If you want to check the facts go directly to the post @ http://eyeonegremont.blogspot.com/2013/08/no-citizens-you-cant-speak-at-our.html

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    2. So you didn't compare Bruce to Stalin? You just said that he runs a meeting in a Soviet manner and that he looks like Stalin (and could be his reincarnation) and has identical political philosophies?

      Uh, you DO know what a comparison is, right?

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  15. I have the blog saved, and in spite of KZ's absurd spin on what is a clearly rude, insulting and mean spirited post, it is typical of this self-deluded blogger.

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    1. Thank God for this self deluded blogger. Town Hall is so busy making our beautiful Little Old Egremont into an Empire, they never consider how rude insulting and mean spirited they are to the rest of the towns taxpaying citizens. We are so bullied and lied to, I don't know how Kevin even found 169 people BBRAVE enough to come out and vote. I had almost given up.

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    2. I also have the blog saved, every post. And in spite of the fact that their lies can be refuted with evidence some people still put out more misinformation. I guess some people don't bother to read or check out the facts.

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    3. The misinformation being that you compared Bruce to Stalin? Your above "refutation" of that has to be read to be believed.

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    4. I think he explained that. Do you have trouble understanding the printed word?

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