P.E.O.P.L.E. No More

[admin]

It is time to post this due to recent news article in the News Transcript surrounding the Human Relations Committee.

The PEOPLE group does not exist. ( for those of you who have not figured it out)

I mentioned this to Clare when I was interviewed for the article. it is not right for a group that does not exist to be referenced.

The PEOPLE name only exists in two places-cyberspace and when the papers want to use it to create tension.

In the beginning of the year I did meet with several individuals who had an interest in moving PEOPLE forward. There were several stated goals if the group was to move ahead. The home pages of this site as well as the mission statement really lay it all out. To have a civic minded group play a positive roll in helping our town in many different ways.

It was agreed that PEOPLE should not be viewed as just an anti illegal immigration group. It was also agreed that the PEOPLE group should not be the ones providing negative stories for the papers and dragging this town's name through the mud. There are other groups who do a wonderful job of that.

For a number of reasons, these things did not manifest themselves. No matter what, the PEOPLE name will always be associated with illegal immigration and nothing else. The papers would make sure of that. Remember, the last public meeting that PEOPLE held was for the schools pertaining to an informational session on the building referendum. That did not get one word of print in the papers.

The PEOPLE group played it's role several years ago. The name simply needs to die. That does not mean that I do not support the very real need to get people in our town active and involved. And I do not mean that to pertain to that one certain subject that always gets us in the papers. I mean that for everything. Schools, historic preservation, safety, volunteering, and so many other good things.

I will always work with those who care about this town and want to help.

Now for the obvious question. This site. Guess what? It stays! (Sorry mayor and council.)

Starting with the message board. I am surprised that nobody picked up on the fact that about two months ago I took the PEOPLE name off of the title. I did that to make the site more neutral and inviting to all of our town. The name of this message board is simply the" Freehold Voice." It always has been and will be an open forum.

And I have to say, contrary to the idiotic statement from the Mayor who called this a GOP site, that is simply not the case. He knows better.

I have kept the main pages because they provide the best visitor tracking. Make nio mistake, this site is well read by hundreds of people. I will most likely redo the entire main pages with a different theme and concept. I hope to do something that shows pride in Freehold and of course shows a desire to better Freehold Borough. I likely will not do that until after Christmas. If anybody has ideas and wants to contribute to the developement of new home pages, feel free to reach out.

Brian

[richardkelsey]

Brian:

The death of the PEOPLE organization is a shame.

I beamed with pride when I attended only one meeting of the group at the Legion. It was great to long time and new residents -- real home-owners with families taking time out to work their collective butts off to organize and fight for their town.

Unfortunately -- PEOPLE was under-mined by everyone outside of the group -- and even some formerly in it.

Here are some examples:

The heavy toll of illegal immigration on quality of life and schools drove some members to leave, choosing to protect themselves and their family by moving. (Hard to blame anyone for that)

The open border crowd painted PEOPLE as a racist group -- and newspapers now that won't ask either a tough or intelligent question of the Mayor were more than happy to repeat the racist charge and label the group every time it took any action.
Those sophisticated manipulators in open borders' groups poured on the attacks and tried to dissuade a growing movement that was truly about quality of life issues.

The Mayor likely landed the mortal blow when he adroitly recognized that the rise of a real, organized, grass-roots group of citizens meant bad days for him. What did he do? He co-opted and and decapitated the group by appointing a PEOPLE founder to Council. The price of that appointment was to switch parties, switch loyalties, and sing a different tune. The effect of the appointment, was to leave PEOPLE without its founder, and a false sense that he would take the fight to his Council seat.
Now -- that once tough fighter listens to the Mayor about what he can say, to whom he can say it, when and where.
(edit -- I don't think Marc was part of some dark conspiracy when appointed. I think he was used -- and now finds himself part of the machine.)

Their is still great pride and great fight in the Borough -- but it is clear that the plan of the Mayor and the open border's lobby to kill PEOPLE and make it too hard to continue has been successful.

That does not, however, mean that the voice of the people must be quieted.

When one dares to speak up -- one can expect to be shouted down. That's not fun, and many choose to shy away from the responsibility. But the fight continues in Freehold. I see it on these pages. I see it and hear in the calls, messages, words, and greeting of those dispirited but not yet defeated.

When dissent is dead -- so will be the great spirit of that community. Some people don't have the luxury, the desire, or the means to move out -- and fight many of them will. They now know -- or are beginning to learn -- that they fight alone, without the support of their Mayor and Council.

Their voices are still heard -- and their pride is unmatched. Their task is daunting, but not yet unattainable.

[casualreader]

I knew there was a problem when we went three years without a meeting.

The Machine and the LLA worked together to kill off this great fun loving organization.

I believed PEOPLE existed even though it was never present at anything in the town -- sort of like the real Santa.

Wait a minute you're not telling me the big guy in the red suit...

Casually in Need of Psychotherapy