Marc's APP Letter 2-14-07

[admin]

Frank Freyer Reply in APP


Public objection a good thing

I write in response to the Feb. 14 letter "Code compliance is panel's goal" in which Freehold Councilman Marc LeVine, who also serves on the Rental Property Advisory Committee, claims that I breached ethics by alerting the media to a proposal to require landlords to check on the immigration status of prospective tenants.

Alerting the media when nativists wish to quietly pass off recommendations that would make life difficult, if not impossible, for Latinos living in Freehold is a good thing.

It is important to note that my letter objecting to several aspects of the Feb. 7 report by the advisory committee was issued the same day the report was made public. This way reporters could assess the report and my objections at the same time.

Furthermore, our findings were publicly discussed at several meetings. The committee is a public body and its deliberations and conclusions are public. There was nothing secret that needed to wait for an appropriate time to be released.

It is my right to try and influence public opinion and debate ideas at a time of my choosing. I do not need the permission of anyone to do so. Only in totalitarian states is speaking out a "breach of ethics."

Frank Argote-Freyre

RENTAL PROPERTY

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

FREEHOLD

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070216/OPINION/702160380/1032

[Marc LeVine]

Ahhh...Calliope... the next letter to the editor needs to point this out. Or, let his be the last word on this...the silence that follows will be deafening.

The readers have enough information to bring in the correct verdict on this one (see the other editorials that have since followed his escapade).

It's refreshing that Frank is taking a defensive posture, for a change, but he doesn't have a case this time around. Bottom line is that the public never "breaches ethics" by going to the press, however, active committee members DO, unless there is scandal to be uncovered and a need for "whistelblowing."

And...We're not talking scandalous "whistle blowing," here. Besides, Frank would have had the Press' ear at the meeting, since he was in attendance that night. Totalitarian? Frank is the one trying to force a RUSH to judgment.

By the way...Frank - the author - has a syntax error in his diatribe. "Latinos" is the incorrect word and should read as "Illegal Immigrants." And when he uses the word "Nativist," isn't he trying to be polite by not calling his fellow committee members "BIGOTS?" Not nice.

Marc

Marc

Marc

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Question...

Are there MINUTES available from the PUBLIC sessions held by the RENTAL PROPERTY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

calliope said:

had to sit in the corner all the time because he "doesn't play well with others."

In a round room no less, which explains such confusion!