|
|
Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 5, 2006 14:35:20 GMT -5
I'll be visting the Human Relations Committee tonight (7pm, Borough Hall) to discuss an upcoming trip up to Maplewood Township. MT is supposed to be a model town that has turned itself around and inspired the formation of Fund for an Open Society ( www.opensoc.org), which we're also checking out. I'm sure there are other interesting items on their agenda. And, one of our favorite advocates sits on the committee and often opposes resident issues. It might be good for some more residents to show up at this and other committee meetings to stand up for Freehold Borough, in addition to learning about what this and other committees are presently working on. Councilman Jay Sims liasons this committee, by the way. Marc |
|
|
|
Post by wyane on Dec 5, 2006 14:56:01 GMT -5
"often opposes resident issues."
Please explain
|
|
|
|
Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 5, 2006 15:01:10 GMT -5
Frank Fryre has been a vocal critic of the town's efforts to curb the negative effects of illegal immigration. You already know this from his recent quotes in the APP about the settlement (re:article about the Latino Festival).
Marc
|
|
|
|
Post by Wyane on Dec 5, 2006 15:06:50 GMT -5
Ohh FF! Should I wear Garlic if I show up to night???
|
|
|
|
Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 5, 2006 15:10:13 GMT -5
Funny how just the mere mention of his name elicits certain very strong emotions.
|
|
|
|
Post by wyane on Dec 5, 2006 15:24:39 GMT -5
just consider the source,
IN HIS MIND....he's lookng out for his OWN, and much of his grandstanding for HIS audiance, wich we are not!
el Chavez del la Boro.
|
|
|
|
Post by wyane on Dec 5, 2006 15:43:46 GMT -5
kinda like Reverend Al, of old? But with a Latino, Machismo Bravado (Do DA, Do DA)
|
|
|
|
Post by sonofsilencedogood on Dec 5, 2006 15:54:49 GMT -5
Mark, I am curious...is there an opportunity for public comments at the Human relations meetings???
|
|
|
|
Post by richardkelsey on Dec 5, 2006 16:02:25 GMT -5
I did not see a link to this committee on the borough web. Who are it's members? Does it have a mission statement? Does it take minutes? Does it pass resolutions?
Maybe I missed it -- but these would be excellent bits of info for the Borough web page.
|
|
|
|
Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 5, 2006 16:41:18 GMT -5
This is up to the Mayor.
Those that might be considered advocates are Frank Freyre, Cecilia Reynolds and, perhaps, Andre McGuire.
Truth is, with such a large illegal immigrant community, we really do need a way to reach out to them. There aren't too many other choices that have any real following within that community.
Actually, even Frank doesn't have much of a local following, based on what I have seen (or not seen) regarding his ability to gather the people.
At least, Cecelia Reynolds publishes a Spanish newspaper that reaches this population. Frank is purely argumentative and divisive. I DO expect community representatives to stand up for their folks. But, to sulk, whine and call personal press conferences to get one's own way is not the best human relations approach.
But, the Mayor decides on all appointments. You should write him about your displeasure (with the appointees) and your own interest (in replacing them).
Marc
|
|
|
|
Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 5, 2006 16:45:46 GMT -5
It's a bit less formal than a council meeting. Generally, you ask permission (of the chair) to speak and it is usually granted. The floor is generally yours as long as you don't abuse it (time considerations & respectable content).
Marc
|
|
|
|
Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 5, 2006 16:58:57 GMT -5
Rich:
Yes, it would be a good addition to the Borough web site. A little history on the committee. It got started soon after Norma Randolph's granddaughters claimed molestation by the police about 3 or 4 years ago. I was one of the original members and Kevin Coyne was the liaison.
The members back then are, I think, the same people who still serve. They include: Augie Daesener, Roger Kane, Cecelia Reynolds, Frank Freyre, Rabbi Kenneth Green, Andre McGuire, Jim Keelen, Ricky White, Jack Shea and the Reverend from AME Bethel Church. I can't remember whom else serves on that committee.
The committee is modeled after Freehold Township's. There is a mission statement that took awhile to gain agreement on. Many of the issues faced these past few years relate to the illegal immigration situation. Lots of heated exchanges about that topic, as you might imagine, given the cast of characters.
Marc
|
|
|
|
Post by admin on Dec 5, 2006 17:08:10 GMT -5
This is up to the Mayor. Those that might be considered advocates are Frank Freyre, Cecilia Reynolds and, perhaps, Andre McGuire. Truth is, with such a large illegal immigrant community, we really do need a way to reach out to them. There aren't too many other choices that have any real following within that community. Actually, even Frank doesn't have much of a local following, based on what I have seen (or not seen) regarding his ability to gather the people. At least, Cecelia Reynolds publishes a Spanish newspaper that reaches this population. Frank is purely argumentative and divisive. I DO expect community representatives to stand up for their folks. But, to sulk, whine and call personal press conferences to get one's own way is not the best human relations approach. But, the Mayor decides on all appointments. You should write him about your displeasure (with the appointees) and your own interest (in replacing them). Marc Putting my last crazy post aside, you make some good points. having Celia and Andre on board makes some sense. I do not know Frank. My only opinion on him, or any of the advocates, is based on what I have seen in the papers. For all I know they could be the nicest people in town. I do not know. What I have seen in the papers is a disgrace. Marc, you mention some very negative traits about Frank. That alone should warrant his expulsion from the HRC. There should, be no need to wait for letters. Cecilia? You mention she is press. That automatically gets me worried. How fair is her paper? Do they express differing views? or do they just say that Freehold is racist? She should be an asset, but...... And Andre. Is he not the good rev? I have heard good things about him. Although I have not always appreciated what I see in the papers, I will not criticize a man of the cloth who tries to help and feed the poor. That is what a church should do. Now, who represents the Americans on the HRC? any PEOPLE supporters there? |
|
|
|
Post by Marc Levine on Dec 5, 2006 17:10:48 GMT -5
re: FF
Gosh, Calliope...you nailed it! Sounds like you've been talking to his mother!!
Marc
|
|
|
|
Post by wyane on Dec 5, 2006 17:27:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 5, 2006 17:31:33 GMT -5
They both have a following, yes.
See Calliope's comments. She obviously knows him well. She's exactly on target.
These are the Mayor's appointments. They are voted on in January at the Reorganization meeting. The council can vote no on the appointments. Now..there is something. Better if his name is off the list to begin with, though.
I can read Spanish fairly well and what I see in her paper is usually translations of articles from the News Transcript and Asbury Park Press. I haven't seen nor heard of much or any negative commentary about the town from her in Nosotros. Her challenge has always been regaining her role as advocate "Top Dog" in Freehold. The other advocates rolled over her soon after they arrived...Frank, Mahonry Hidalgo, Virginia McGlone, etc.
Yes. I agree with that aspect of it. However, the advocates have "used" him and his church as they try to tie the illegal immigration issue to the civil rights movement.
They "empowered" him and hoped he'd win a council seat and bring support for the illegal immigrant community to the council table. Andre happens to be a decent man, I think. I'm afraid he was made promises of increased church membership, greater community standing, possibly more funding, etc. The advocates desperately needed local faces to press their cause so they rounded up Rev. McGuire, Tom Baldwin, Rev. Vanderbunte (gone) and Steve Richter (moved away) to relieve all the outsiders they originally sent to town when the muster zone issue hit.
Augie Daesener, Roger Kane, Jack Shea, Jim Keelen, Rabbi Green. Certainly, Rev Parrish, Ricky White respect the basic needs of the immigrants, but they equally balance the needs of the town and seem to understand the negative impact of illegal immigration on Freehold Borough .
Augie kind of supported PEOPLE at the start, but expected more results early on.
Marc
|
|
|
|
Post by richardkelsey on Dec 5, 2006 17:48:35 GMT -5
Rich: Yes, it would be a good addition to the Borough web site. A little history on the committee. It got started soon after Norma Randolph's granddaughters claimed molestation by the police about 3 or 4 years ago. I was one of the original members and Kevin Coyne was the liaison. The members back then are, I think, the same people who still serve. They include: Augie Daesener, Roger Kane, Cecelia Reynolds, Frank Freyre, Rabbi Kenneth Green, Andre McGuire, Jim Keelen, Ricky White, Jack Shea and the Reverend from AME Bethel Church. I can't remember whom else serves on that committee. The committee is modeled after Freehold Township's. There is a mission statement that took awhile to gain agreement on. Many of the issues faced these past few years relate to the illegal immigration situation. Lots of heated exchanges about that topic, as you might imagine, given the cast of characters. Marc That is quite a collection of characters for sure. |
|
|
|
Post by admin on Dec 6, 2006 8:00:21 GMT -5
Yes, yes, I know, I need to go to meetings to find out the answer myself. But I am going to ask anyway.
What can the human relations committee claim to have accomplished within our town? Any specific actions that can be referred to?
I know that Marc posted about why the HRC was started, but what have they really done?
|
|
|
|
Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 6, 2006 9:30:51 GMT -5
Brian:
The HR Committee has been embroiled in the illegal immigration issue since it began and that effort has expended much of its energy...and its focus. It is supposed to be a board that solves conflicts within the community. HR has handled a few challenges, successfully.
I haven't been part of the committee for quite sometime, but I remember some of the good things it accomplished in its early days.
The residents living near the Freehold Jewish Center were angered by the traffic to pick up and drop off Hebrew school children in the area. People's driveways were being blocked by parents from surrounding towns that didn't seem to care that the residents couldn't get in and out. The Synagogue really didn't have a workable traffic plan to control the traffic or effective ways to get the parents to comply with the rules or to be courteous to the neighbors.
A subcommittee of HR met with both sides in this heated dispute and worked out better arrangements that still seem to be in place and working well.
The HR Committee also set up the First Time Home Buyers seminar at the Park Avenue School a few years back. It was very successful. Matter of fact, the Rental Property Advisory Committee is very interested in getting them to repeat this event on a regular basis. Augie Daesener, who sits on both committees, is very interested in taking this on.
I also left a recommendation on the table when I moved up to council. The committee and the police were looking into establishing a mediation board to dress neighborhood disputes. I'm not sure what the status of that recommendation is, currently.
Remember, Councilman Sims just took over the liaison of that committee. Kevin Coyne was the past liaison. Down the road, we will see more from them - hopefully, lots of positive things.
As a postscript, I spoke at last night's meeting about our upcoming visit to Maplewood. They will choose from among the members to accompany those of us who go in January.
Marc
|
|
)