The Newsletter, August, 2012

You got it, right?

Please take a look, and let our staff know what you think.  The editorial board is Ana Garcia and Maria Camara.

At the Commission meeting where it was decided to reinstate Commissioner columns, there was a lot of discussion as to how much room (how many words) each Commissioner would be allowed.  The maximum was finally placed at 500.  Looking at these columns, appreciating their content, and seeing them laid out in the newsletter, I think less would have been better.  There had been a suggestion of a 300 word maximum, but some Commissioners felt this would be stifling to them.  Again, now that I see it, I don't think anyone would have been cheated by being a bit more concise.

Further on the matter of what Commissioners have to say, Anderson asks you to get in touch with him if you need anything.  Ross goes so far as to list her cell phone number.  I will tell you from long personal experience, each one is absolutely good for it.  Whether they agree or disagree, you will hear back from them.  More or less promptly.  And neither will stop discussing any matter with you until you're satisfied that you were heard, and that you were taken very seriously.  Sometimes you persuade them, and sometimes you don't, but you're never ever ignored by these two Commissioners.  Watts lists her Village e-mail as well.  Don't hold your breath, and don't expect a lengthy written reply, but you will hear back from her.  She might prefer a phone conversation.  Jacobs also lists his Village e-mail.  In my personal experience, you might get a reply, it will read like prepared remarks, and it won't go far.  But he and I aren't exactly the best of pals, so maybe someone else gets from him something closer to the time of day than I do.

To me, the glaring omissions are no column from our CrimeWatch Chairman, and no column from the Foundation.  A Village newsletter should have both.

Another important omission concerns a very big change in this Village.  We are about to lose someone who has had a profound effect on us.  He's not a resident.  Mitch Glansberg, our Police Chief, is retiring.  Bizarrely, there was almost not one mention of this fact in the whole newsletter, except a closing comment from Roxy Ross.  Mitch turned a dysfunctional police force into a regular award-winner, and these guys serve us magnificently well.  Mitch will be very much missed around here.

Note the back page.  It features three paid ads.  The largest one is from Patrick Jaimez, one of our BP-specialist realtors, and a resident of BP.  The two smaller ones are from Denis Murphy, a Park resident who is a roofer, and Chuck Ross, also a resident and an accountant.  I don't know what Patrick spent for his ad, but Murphy and Ross each spent $50, unless Murphy spent more, because he has a logo.

I don't advertise my business like that, but I once placed an ad-sized spot with a quote I liked.  I didn't even identify myself.  Anyone can buy a spot for as little as $50.  It's not a bad thing to do, and it's a bit of income for the Village.